Bloomington Jefferson pumped for third trip to state softball

Hannah Evavold was on the bench, where she had sat for much of the year, but this time was different. This time, she might actually get into the game.

The Bloomington Jefferson pitcher/first baseman had been expected to be one of the Jaguars' mainstays this season. She was a leader whose skills as a pitcher and at the plate were potent enough, many hoped, to lead the team in its quest for a third consecutive Class 3A state tournament berth.

But a freak accident in the second game of the season — chasing a foul ball, she dived headfirst into a fence post and suffered a concussion — sidelined her for the rest of the regular season. So she was relegated to the bench, and even that was in question.

"At first, my doctor didn't even want me on the bench," she said. "But I wanted to play so badly that I had to do something."

With Evavold out, the Jaguars struggled to a 3-3 start, the low point being a 16-2 loss Lakeville North.

"That was a brutal beating," coach Fred Wroge said. "It was embarrassing, but I saw a change after that. The team wanted to get better and be the best they could possibly be. They jelled."

Jefferson regrouped, won seven of its last eight regular season games and went into the Section 3, Class 3A playoffs on a roll.

Evavold was cleared to play in the first section playoff game against Eagan. Wroge played it conservatively. He kept her on the bench but intimated that she should stay ready.

"I wanted to see how things would play out," he said. "In the sixth inning, I yelled to our No. 9 hitter to get Hannah ready to hit. I said I wanted to go long ball, which I meant as trying to get a single instead of slap-hitting."

Wroge's comment proved to be more literal than he thought. On the third pitch she faced, Evavold swung hard and connected, driving the ball over the fence for a two-run home run.

Evavold thought to herself, "What did I just do?'' she recalled later. "I was so excited. It ended up being the game-winning runs."

Even better than the victory, the Jaguars had their leader back. Evavold and Alex O'Connor, the pitcher who stepped up when she was out, combined to lead the team to another section title, coming out of the losers' bracket to beat Lakeville South twice for the championship.

"It's comforting to have Hannah back," Carroll said. "But we found out we don't need to rely on her to be a good team."

Now the Jaguars face another problem. In each of the past two years, they lost in the first round of the state tournament but came back to win the consolation title. Getting past first-round opponent Maple Grove is their next challenge.

"We had T-shirts made up before the year that said 'The third time is a charm,' " Evavold said. "We've been down there before. We're confident. We have to stay focused, keep up our energetic attitude and keep playing for each other. I think we're all pumped. I feel like this is the year we're going to do it."