Rensberger outduels Fitzhugh, helps Lady Zs complete another 9-0 TRC run

Miller, Medina, Wilson each have RBI

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

The 2026 Rochester Zebras softball team poses for a picture after their 3-1 victory over Lewis Cass on Wednesday. The Zebras finished the TRC at 9-0 for the second straight season to take back to back conference titles.

Bria Rensberger pitched a two-hitter with no walks and 12 strikeouts, and Aubrey Wilson doubled and drove in a run as the Rochester softball team beat Lewis Cass 3-1 to win the Three Rivers Conference title outright at Fansler Field Wednesday.

Gabby Medina and Aubrey Miller each added a single and an RBI for Class 2A, No. 7 Rochester, who improved to 19-3 overall.

Rochester went 9-0 in the TRC for the second straight year. They have won 24 straight conference games dating back to 2024.

Lewis Cass fell to 9-10 overall and 7-2 in the TRC. Had they won, Lewis Cass would have shared the conference crown with Rochester.

Leading 3-0 going into the seventh, Rensberger struck out Shay Dishner to start the seventh. Ava Hubner fisted a liner to shallow center for a single. Alicia Toops laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Hubner took an aggressive turn around second. A throw to the third baseman in an attempt to get Hubner in a rundown was wild for an error, and Hubner came around to score.

Rensberger then struck out Maddie Lynch on a 3-2 pitch to end it.

The game was a matchup between Rensberger, who had allowed just nine runs in conference play, and Amma Fitzhugh, who was in the circle at Fansler Field as a freshman in 2023 when Lewis Cass won the sectional.

Neither team had a baserunner until the bottom of the third, when Brailyn Hunter led off with a hit against Fitzhugh. Gabby Medina followed with a hit, and Mylee Heinzmann reached on a hit by pitch to load the bases.

Miller’s RBI single made it 1-0, but Fitzhugh kept the damage to a run. Gonzalez grounded into a forceout at the plate. The throw to try and get her at first to complete the double play was late, but Toops’ throw back to Hubner at the plate was in time to retire Heinzmann trying to score from second for an unusual double play.

Fitzhugh then struck out Wilson to retire the side.

In the fifth, Brailyn Hunter reached third on a throwing error and scored on Medina’s squeeze bunt.

Gonzalez led off the sixth with a walk and stole second. She scored when Wilson doubled into the 5-6 hole on the left side.

The teams could meet again in the sectional final in eight days.

Rochester 3, Lewis Cass 1

Lewis Cass 000 000 1 – 1 2 1

Rochester 001 011 X – 3 4 1

WP – Bria Rensberger (7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K)

LP – Amma Fitzhugh (6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)

2B – Aubrey Wilson (RHS)