Trans Pitcher’s Doubles and Complete Game Propel Champlin Park to Minnesota State Final

In a thrilling semifinal showdown, the Champlin Park Rebels clinched a spot in the Minnesota High School Girls' Softball State Championship, powered by their standout transgender pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger. The junior delivered a complete game, overcoming a rocky start where two early runs slipped through. Settling into a groove, Rothenberger allowed just seven hits, one earned run, and fanned three batters, guiding the No. 2-seeded Rebels to a nail-biting 3-2 victory over No. 6 White Bear Lake.

But it wasn’t just Rothenberger’s arm that shone. At the plate, the pitcher sparked the comeback with a leadoff double in the fifth, igniting a rally to knot the score at 2-2. In the decisive seventh, Rothenberger’s second double of the day—going 2-for-3 overall—set the stage for a dramatic walk-off. A courtesy runner took her place and later crossed home plate on a clutch two-out hit from junior outfielder Ava Parent, sending the Rebels to the championship.

Champlin Park now faces No. 4 Bloomington Jefferson on Friday at the University of Minnesota’s Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, after Jefferson stunned top-seeded Forest Lake. While the Rebels celebrated, the mood in the White Bear Lake dugout was heavy. Tearful players grappled with the season’s end, some venting frustration over competing against a transgender athlete under Minnesota’s inclusive policies, which align with state law allowing students to compete based on gender identity.

The loss stirred raw emotions. One White Bear Lake player, embracing her father, lamented, 'That’s not fair.' His response—'That’s Minnesota'—captured a broader sentiment among some parents, who privately expressed dismay over what they see as a system prioritizing ideology over competitive equity. Despite national shifts toward female-only eligibility rules in sports like USA Softball, Minnesota’s laws create a complex landscape, leaving some feeling powerless.