Trans pitcher guides Champlin Park to win Minnesota softball state title

Minneapolis – The Rebels at Champlin Park are state champions

The Rebels, seeded second, secured a 6-0 victory against fourth-seed Bloomington Jefferson in the Class AAAA Minnesota High School Girls Softball championship held Friday morning at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

Junior pitcher Marissa Rothenberger took the mound and delivered a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits over six innings. This impressive performance capped a dominant tournament run, where Rothenberger pitched all 21 innings across three games, yielding just two runs and leading the Rebels to three significant wins.

Rothenberger’s Dominance on the Mound

Rothenberger’s tournament journey started with a complete game shutout in the quarterfinals against seventh-seeded Egan, conceding only seven hits in a 5-0 victory. In the semifinals, she led Champlin Park to a narrow 3-2 win over sixth-seeded White Bear Lake, pitching another full game and giving up two runs while striking out three and contributing two important doubles.

Overall, she allowed only two runs in 35 innings to finish the postseason strong, including 14 consecutive shutout innings that propelled Champlin Park to their first state tournament berth.

Audience Reactions at the State Tournament

Outside the stadium, a small group of protesters gathered peacefully, holding signs that expressed concerns about fairness in sports and voiced their opposition to policies allowing Rothenberger, a biological male, to compete in the girls’ division. The Minnesota State High School League permits participation in events based on gender identity, regardless of biological sex.

After the game, efforts to speak with Champlin Park’s parents were met with a mix of reactions. One parent, whose daughter Ava Parent is a junior outfielder, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. Another father from Champlin Park indicated he preferred not to comment for the other side of the debate.

For Bloomington Jefferson’s parents, the loss was tough but they took pride in their team’s tournament journey. One dad noted, “It’s hard, but they follow the rules, whether we like it or not,” while another parent expressed disappointment but acknowledged the opposing team’s performance.

Among the spectators was a mother from Jefferson who chose to focus on the positives, saying, “We exceeded our expectations this season. No one thought we’d make it to the championship, so I’m going to celebrate anyway.”