by Dennis Dalman
It was a stunning outcome that had Sartell families jumping up and down, yelling and clapping and even, in some cases, shedding tears of joy.
In St. Peter on the weekend of July 9-10, the Sartell Swarm 10U girls softball travel team, Tier 10, won seven of the eight games they played, earning them the state tournament championship in their category.
On Saturday, the team won handily over Springfield (12-6), Eagan (15-5), Burnsville (15-1) and Richfield (10-4). On Sunday, the Swarm started the day with a loss to Aitkin (10-4). They then defeated St. Peter (14-6). Because it was a double-elimination tournament, the Swarm then had to play against Aitkin two more times. They won both games (10-4 in the first, 7-3 in the second).
It was a very hot and humid weekend, and the players and spectators had to drink water frequently to stay hydrated.
“The weekend was fun but very tiring,” said team member, starting catcher Reese Kenning, daughter of Jennifer and Scott Kenning. Scott is an assistant coach for the Swarm.
Right after the last, triumphant win on Sunday evening, Reese said to her proud mother, “Mom, I’m hungry!” Not long after that, the family stopped to eat at a place in St. Peter, and Reese was able to order her favorite food: cheese curds.
“Back home that night, as soon as Reese’s head hit the pillow she was out like a light,” Jennifer said. “That tournament was such a good culminating moment for those girls. It was fun to watch them grow and bond over the season.”
Reese also loves to play tennis but wants to be a “good softball player” when she is older.
“What I like about softball is catching the ball and getting people out at every base,” she said. “And it’s fun being around people and hearing cheers from the crowds.”
Among those cheering in St. Peter were Reese’s two brothers – Dane, 12, who used to play softball; and Rafe, 5, who enjoys baseball and hockey.
The ace pitcher for seven of the eight games was Ronni Peterson, who also plays shortstop. She is the daughter of Jill and Mike Peterson.
After the final game, tears flowed down Jill’s face when she hugged her daughter.
On the way home, the family stopped in Jordon to visit the “Largest Candy Store in the World.”
Needless to say, Jill told her daughter to buy anything she wanted – anything at all. Ronnie bought freeze-dried Skittles, gummi kebobs and blue rope straws.
“Did I embarrass you when I was crying?” Jill asked her daughter.
“No,” she said. “I thought it was funny.”
In the tournament, Ronni pitched a whopping total of 58 strike-outs. She played shortstop in game 5 and tagged three outs.
When Ronni gets older she intends to be – what else? – a professional softball player.
Both mothers, Jill and Jennifer, were impressed by the “impeccable sportsmanship” displayed by all the girls on all the teams, especially the Aitkin team whose members, even while losing, were gracious and encouraging to their opponents – the Swarm team members.
“I’m a strong believer in teamwork,” said Jill, adding she knows its importance from being a para-professional at Oak Ridge Elementary School.
The 11 Swarm team members are Grace Hammond, Harper Johnson, Reese Kenning, Ella Lipinski, Lily Ludewig, Piper Mesker, Madalyn O’Hara, Ronni Peterson, Brooklyn Smith, Gabby Smith and Brielle Spanier.
Its coaches are Joe Ludewig (head coach) and assistant coaches Stevie Hammond, Mike Lipinski and Scott Kenning.

Members of the Sartell Swarm U10 team give a flurry of high-fives after winning the state tournament in St. Peter.

At the St. Peter U10 Tournament, Sartell Swarm team member Ronni Peterson prepares to hit the ball as Lily Ludewig prepares to make the dash from third to home plate.

The members of the tournament-winning Sartell Swarm U10 team are (first row) Ella Lipinski, Ronni Peterson, Lily Ludewig, Brielle Spanier (second row) Gabby Smith, Brooklyn Smith (third row) assistant coach Stevie Hammond, Reese Kenning, Piper Mesker, Harper Johnson, assistant coach Scott Kenning, Madalyn O’Hara, Grace Hammond and head coach Joe Ludewig. Assistant coach Mike Lipinksi is not pictured.