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AITKIN – The Bemidji Legion softball season is off to an impressive start. The Titans went 4-1 at the Rumble at the Roost tournament in Aitkin. Bemidji beat Park Rapids 7-2 in five innings and 7-1 in seven innings. It also beat Staples-Motley 2-0 in five innings and Aitkin 6-5 in six innings, but lost to Aitkin 2-1 in its third game.

Bemidji started its Sunday tournament with a five-run win over Park Rapids. Maya Schmidt with 2 for 3 with a pair of singles and an RBI. Hannah Backus, Kenley Anderson and Brooklyn Nord all had singles, while Backus had two RBIs.

After a 2-1 loss against Aitkin, the Titans rebounded with a 2-0 win over Staples-Motley. Bemidji had eight hits, with two of them coming from Kenley Anderson. Backus, Schmidt, Jessa Anderson, Kayleigh Lory, Bailee Nord and Anna Swedberg each recorded a single.

Bemidji got another crack against Aitkin, and found itself on the better side of it in round two.

Tied 4-4 after five innings, Aleah Shogren ripped an RBI single to bring home Jessa Anderson. It proved to be the game-winning hit in a one-run win. Schmidt went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Shogren also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

In the fifth and final game against Park Rapids, the Titans’ four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in a six-run triumph.

After Braylee Benson scored on an error, and Backus crossed home on a sacrifice fly, Lory doubled in another run with two outs to take a 7-1 lead. The score held the rest of the game. Six different Bemidji players recorded hits.

Swedberg and Shogren controlled the pitcher’s circle for Bemidji. Swedberg went 2-0 with a save, pitching 13 innings over the five games. She allowed 11 hits, without an earned run or a walk, all while collecting 13 strikeouts.

Shogren pitched 15 innings for the Titans (4-1). She surrendered six earned runs on 15 hits with two walks with 23 strikeouts.

Bemidji will host Parkers Prairie for a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday at the BHS softball field.

Bemidji 7, Park Rapids 2 (F/5)

PR 000 02 – 2-5-6

BEM 120 4X – 7-5-3

WP: Swedberg (5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K)

Aitkin 2, Bemidji 1 (F/5)

ATK 110 00 – 2-4-5

BEM 001 00 – 1-2-2

LP: Shogren (5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K)

Bemidji 2, Staples-Motley 0 (F/5)

SM 000 00 – 0-5-0

BEM 000 2X – 2-8-1

WP: Swedberg (5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)

Bemidji 5, Aitkin 4 (F/6)

BEM 211 001 – 5-7-0

ATK 130 000 – 4-7-2

WP: Shogren (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)

Bemidji 7, Park Rapids 1 

PR 100 000 0 – 1-5-5

BEM 120 040 X – 7-6-1

WP: Shogren (4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)

S: Swedberg (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)