Outfielder Gabby Blomlie makes the game ending catch to keep Anoka in first place. Photo by Kelly McGinley
Injuries don’t phase Amber Elliott, especially when a trip to the state tournament is on the line.
The sophomore pitcher was still feeling the effects of a knee injury she sustained in Anoka’s loss to Maple Grove in the regular-season finale May 13.
“I had Amber throw a little bit and asked how she was doing,” Tornadoes coach Toni Jesinoski said after the game. “She said she probably got two innings for us.”
It turned out that Elliott had more than two.
She battled through the injury to throw four sparking innings in relief and lead top-seeded Anoka to a 3-2 victory over second-seeded Forest Lake in the Class 3A, Section 7 championship game Thursday at Andover High School.
Elliott relieved starter Molly Swenson in the fourth inning and gave up a home run to Forest Lake’s Mia Schmidtke. It was the only blemish on her afternoon. Elliott refocused and shut down the Rangers’ offense the rest of the way.
“I just came back (from the home run) so mad,” Elliott said. “I was like, ‘Nobody is going to score off of me now.’”
Jesinoski said that Elliott is resolute in her duties in the circle for the Tornadoes.
“She’s not going to come out unless I physically sit her down,” Jesinoski added with a laugh.
Senior outfielder Taylor Chell said Anoka never lost confidence in Elliott after the allowing the home run.
“We were all really calm,” Chell said, adding that the Tornadoes simply acknowledged the hit and focused on getting the next out.
Schmidtke’s home run put the Rangers ahead 2-1, but Forest Lake (18-8) held the lead for only one inning.
Chell hit a two-run homer in the fifth, driving a pitch over the left-center field fence to give the Tornadoes (22-1-1) the lead for good.
The Gophers commit set up her game-winning hit by working the count to her favor. Despite facing a 3-0 count, Chell wasn’t encouraged to take the next pitch.
“Normally on a 3-0 count with Taylor, I let her swing away,” Jesinoski said.
Chell credited the leadership of Elliott and the numerous young players in the Anoka lineup for allowing the Tornadoes, who are ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A coaches poll, to make a second consecutive trip to the state tournament.
“It’s an amazing thing,” Chell said of Elliott’s performance. “Most of the talent lies in the underclassmen, and they are stepping up.”
First baseman Mia Schmidtke is all smiles as she runs home after hitting her first varsity home run to take the lead against Anoka. Photo by Kelly McGinley
First Report
Sophomore Amber Elliott pitched four innings in a relief appearance to help top-seeded Anoka defeat second-seeded Forest Lake 3-2 and win the Class 3A, Section 7 title Thursday at Andover High School.
Elliott allowed only one run, a solo home run to Forest Lake sophomore Mia Schmidtke in the top of the fourth inning, and cruised through the rest of the game to record the win, which sends the Tornadoes to the Class 3A state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Junior first baseman Morgan Paaverud's sacrifice fly in the third inning drove in the first run for Anoka, ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A coaches poll. Senior outfielder Taylor Chell put the Tornadoes (22-1-1) ahead 3-2 with a two-run homer to left-center field in the fifth inning.
Senior outfielder Emilie Antony drove in Forest Lake’s first run, while senior pitcher Hally Osdick took the loss for the Rangers (18-8).
