Adapted softball champs make it 11 for 12

They did it again.

For the fourth consecutive year, Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka hoisted the PI (physically impaired) Division adapted softball state champion trophy last weekend at Coon Rapids High School. The Robins defeated Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville 9-2 in the championship game.

Add in state championships in adapted soccer and adapted floor hockey, and the Robins have won 11 of the past 12 state championships in the PI Division.

Robbinsdale/Hopkins/Mound-Westonka (10-1) scored runs in each of the first three innings to build a 6-0 lead in the championship match and were led by junior Charlie Wittmer's three RBI.

The Robins won their first two games in the tournament by a combined 22-3.

The PI team from Wayzata/Minnetonka lost 14-2 in the third place game to Anoka-Hennepin while Minneapolis South was knocked out in the consolation round.

In the CI (cognitively impaired) Division, Osseo defeated Minneapolis Roosevelt in the consolation round before losing a tight 16-15 game to Mounds View/Irondale/Roseville in the consolation championship. The Rams got to that point by defeating Chaska/Chanhassen/Prior Lake/Shakopee.

Surprise, surprise.

The two teams have met in each of the previous five state tournaments sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. To get there again, the top-seed Eagles will have to get by No. 4 Apple Valley. The No. 2 Bears plays No. 3 Stillwater.

The championship match is scheduled for 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. Thursday, contingent on how Blake fares so that a graduation conflict that night can be avoided.

The boys' state championship, which began Tuesday with Edina and Eden Prairie among the teams, will be played Thursday evening at Chanhassen.

The boys' state tennis tournament is also underway. Team finals are Wednesday at Baseline Tennis Center at the University of Minnesota for Class 2A and Reed-Sweat Tennis Center in south Minneapolis for Class 1A. The individual and doubles tournaments begin Thursday.