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April 7, 2000
Rabbits down Sleepy EyeBy BOB VARMETTE Journal Sports Writer SLEEPY EYE -- Amanda Frank has some big shoes to fill. They fit Thursday. Frank wasn't always dominant, but dominated nonetheless, tossing a no-hitter in her first game as the successor to Danielle Jenniges, and leading Wabasso past Sleepy Eye High 7-2 in Tomahawk Conference softball. "I'd say it was average, but I'm pretty happy about it," Frank said, "this being the first game of the year and it being only the second full game I've pitched on varsity." It may not have been the prettiest no-hitter ever thrown, but Frank (1-0) showed she was an able follower in the footsteps of Jenniges. The Rabbit senior yielded only two unearned runs and struck out four. Kristen Krebs (1-1) took the loss for Sleepy Eye. Krebs went the distance as well, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking four. What didn't help Krebs were five errors committed by the Indian defense. "We had to change our first baseman, our shortstop and our third baseman, and we have a different catcher," Sleepy Eye coach Cory Haala said. "They've still got a lot to learn yet. We lost some key starters from last year's team. We didn't make the plays when we needed to." Wabasso (1-0) picked up five runs in the second inning, taking advantage of only two hits and three Sleepy Eye (1-1) errors. The Rabbits sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the second. After Julie Rohlik flew out to right to lead off the innings, the next six Rabbits reached. Alissa Ricketts got aboard via an error and Jessica VanLoy was also the recipient of another Sleepy Eye gift. Casey Price followed with an infield single to load the bases with Rabbits. Jenny VanLoy earned a walk to plate the first Wabasso run and a Krebs' wild pitch brought in Jessica VanLoy for a 2-0 Rabbit lead. Tiffany Froelich drove in Price with an infield single and later scored on yet another Sleepy Eye error to up the Wabasso advantage to 5-0. Sleepy Eye had seven baserunners in the first three innings, but managed to plate only two of them -- in the bottom of the third. And for that, they still needed a little help from the Rabbits. The Indians got their first runner aboard with two outs when Shauna Braun earned a walk on five pitches. Pam Borth followed with a grounder that escaped Rohlik at third that scored Braun. Borth scored on another Wabasso error to cut the Rabbit margin to 5-2. But after that, Frank was nearly perfect. Frank retired the next nine Indians in order. Sleepy Eye did get a pair of runners aboard in the bottom of the seventh, but Frank struck out Ann Tauer, and Anne Ibbersen grounded out to end the game. That pretty much was the story for Sleepy Eye. Chances, but no real offensive production to show for them. "I think we played a solid game," Wabasso coach John VanLoy said. "We were a little shaky out there, but our entire infield is new. " And John VanLoy was happy with his new starting pitcher. "My biggest fear was that she'd get wild," he said. "But she threw strikes. She's not the quality of Dani, but then, at this point, she's not expected to be." In the junior varsity game, Sleepy Eye won, 14-6. Wabasso will travel to New Ulm Cathedral Tuesday. Sleepy Eye will host Redwood Valley Monday. WABASSO 050 110 0 -- 7 7 3 SLEEPY EYE 002 000 0 -- 2 0 5 Frank and Altermatt. Krebs and Zuhlsdorf. W--Frank, 1-0. L--Krebs, 1-1. HRs--None.
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