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Roosevelt beats Brandon Valley in South Dakota state softball quarters

Desiree Hinsch allowed one run in seven innings, struck out 15 and had three hits at the dish to lead No. 5 Sioux Falls Roosevelt to a 5-1 win over No. 4 Brandon Valley in the Class AA state quarterfinals. It's the Rough Riders' first state tournament win since softball became a sanctioned sport.

Roosevelt will face No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson at 2 p.m. Friday, June 5 in the state semifinals.

Hinsch punched out plenty of Lynx with her riseball, letting out a yell each time she put a batter away. The junior has been doing it all season and is a big reason the Riders have now won nine games in a row.

"My team, my coaches, everyone has just put me in a great spot to be here," Hinsch said. "They give me enough runs to win ball games."

Roosevelt's bats appeared dead until the sixth. Raelyn Seiler and Meile Mellegaard hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game at one, then Aliyah Chagolla ripped a single to put Roosevelt up 2-1.

"I was just stoked," Hinsch said. "I was jumping up and down."

Head coach John Seitz was happy Chagolla got her moment to play hero. She earned a powerlifting scholarship to South Dakota next year and is likely playing her final softball tournament. He also said she and Hinsch are the leaders of this group.

Paige Schmidt singled home two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, then Mellegaard doubled home Seiler to put the icing on the cake.

"It takes a bunch off my shoulders," Hinsch said. "I feel like I can go in and throw great pitches. We can allow a run and still win this ball game."

Hinsch and Brandon Valley starter Jacey Meyers carved through each lineup for three innings. The Lynx posted an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead.

Kennedy Fitts drove in Brandon Valley's run in a two-hit day. Meyers finished 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Roosevelt beats Brandon Valley in SDHSAA softball state quarterfinal

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