The Anoka-Ramsey Softball team swept conference rival St. Cloud Tech on Monday to claim the MCAC Southern Division championship, their second in the past three seasons.

This championship allows the Golden Rams the opportunity to host the NJCAA Region 13A Championships next Thursday, May 11 and Friday, May 12, as the #1 seed. Anoka-Ramsey is 34-9 (14-0 1^st place MCAC Southern Division) and still riding a 28-game unbeaten streak.

Game one saw the Golden Rams jump out to an early 2-0 lead after one inning and that would be all the runs the team would need from there. Behind another stellar pitching performance by SO Molly Gross who struck out 12 and only allowing one run, the team was able to battle the elements on a very windy afternoon. The Golden Rams accumulated 13 hits on the day with five players having multi-hit games: Emma Bright, Emma Hurd, Hailey Babcock, Lyla Galli, and Alyssa Meadows.

The second game of the doubleheader ended up being a much tighter game the closing innings. Anoka-Ramsey was up 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 5^th inning when the Cyclones responded with four runs of their own to take a 5-4 lead heading into the top of the 6^th inning. Then the first 6/7 hitters to come up to bat for the Golden Rams laced singles and doubles and then a one run deficit turned into a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the inning. St. Cloud would respond again with two more runs, but this wouldn’t be enough as the Golden Rams would hold on for the 9-7 win. Again, the team accumulated 13 hits with five players having multi-hit games: Hurd, Babcock, Galli, Maddie Bottineau, and Kelsey Henninger. Lyla Galli battled to get her 12^th win of the season against three defeats.

“Words can’t describe how happy and pleased I am for these young women,” said Head Coach Dave Alto. “They have put in the work and are now seeing the results. It is so much fun watching them play, and seeing them enjoying playing the game themselves and with their teammates.”