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After a dramatic, walk-off victory in Wednesday’s semi-final, Champlin Park Rebels is on the way to Minnesota High School Girls’ Softball State Championship and the same is their transking pitcher Marissa Rothenberger.
After giving up two early races in a shaky start, Rothenberger settled in and beat a complete game to help # 2-seeded Champlin Park Edge past No. 6 White Bear Lake, 3-2, in Class AAAA State SemiFinals. Rothenberger abandoned seven hits and two races (one deserved) and knocked out three in the effort.
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Marissa Rothenberger celebrates in Dugout with teammates after Champlin Park’s dramatic victory. (Amber Harding)
But it was Rothenberger who really triggered the comeback. The junior led the fifth round by a double that began Champlin Parks Rally to tie the game on 2 pieces. Then, at the bottom of the seventh, Rothenberger-there opened 2-for-3 on the plate input with another double. Rothenberger was replaced by a “courtesy runner” who eventually scored the game-winning race on a two-out, walk-off hit from the Junior Outfielder Ava parent.
Champlin Park is facing No. 4-seeded Bloomington Jefferson in the championship played Friday at the University of Minnesota’s Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Jefferson disturbed top seeded Forest Lake earlier Wednesday.
But while Champlin Park celebrated his walk-off victory, the stage in White Bear Lake Dugout was far different. Many of the girls were visibly emotional, some in tears, like the reality of the season -ending loss that was put in.
A player turned to his father and asked, “Why can’t you do anything?”
Tracking Trans Athlete High School Sports controversy that shakes the nation in the last year
No parents were willing to go on a record, but Outkick spoke with two white Bear Lake father in the stands who expressed deep frustration over the system that allowed their daughters to compete against a male athlete – namely democratic politicians who prioritize ideology rather than justice.
“You look at a whole team of future Republicans,” a man said.
Another father agreed and said this might be an eye -opening experience for the parents: “They are like” Oh, they crush my child’s dreams? Maybe I made the wrong choices. “
Despite President Donald Trump’s executive order, the Minnesota State allows the High School League (MSHSL) student athletes to compete in events that are consistent with their gender identity, regardless of biological sex. MSHSL said the eligibility of transient student athletes is “determined by state legislation through the Minnesota Human Rights Act and Minnesota Constitution.”
Despite national governing bodies-as the United States Softball and NCAA introduce only female policies, such state-level law enforcement enforcement of loopholes leaving parents and female athletes who feel helpless.
And today in North Mankato, Minn., This helplessness was written all over the faces of the White Bear Lake players.
Transgender Pitcher Marissa Rothenberger (Amber Harding)
When a girl walked off the field, her father met her behind Dugout. “It’s not fair,” she said.
“It’s Minnesota,” he replied.
