Bode strong in debut, tosses one-hitter

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Coming into the season, one of New Ulm Cathedral softball coach Bob Mertz's biggest concerns was how the sophomore battery of Sam Bode and Jessica Stadick would handle the pressure of varsity competition.

The two wasted little time in showing that they can play as Bode allowed one hit in an 11-0 win over Buffalo Lake-Hector Tomahawk Conference action at Harman Park.

"[I felt] very good," Bode said. "It was very fun. Everyone really got together and we worked good as a team."

Bode admitted she was nervous before the game, but the nerves settled after striking out the first six hitters she faced.

"I just forgot about the batters and just kinda pitched to the catcher," Bode said.

Bode fanned nine hitters in four innings. Julie Seifert was just as effective in relief as she struck out two in the fifth.

"We got a few new girls starting here, and I wanted to see how that was going to work," Mertz said. "I thought she [Stadick] did a real nice job of calling the pitches behind the plate. I also wanted to get at our second pitcher. I think both of them threw well for us in the first game."

The Greyhounds scored five runs in the first after Liesl Genelin and Kyley Hillescheim each scored on a wild pitch. Shelly Waibel's single to left scored Nikki Fischer and Julie Seifert. Waibel later scored to make it 5-0.

"We got the first five runs and it really helped," Mertz said. "It kind of got everybody relaxed a little bit."

The Greyhounds, who are ranked 10th in the preseason Class A poll, scored three more runs in the bottom of the third. Waibel again got things going with a single and she scored on Katie Gieseke's double. Gieseke scored on an error to make it 7-0 and Bode helped her own cause when she scored on Hillesheim's bloop single over second, giving the Greyhounds an 8-0 cushion.

"I thought Shelly did a good job and I think Kate Gieseke did a great job," Mertz said. "Katie really has a nice bat. Shelly really struggled last year, but she really worked hard in the offseason. She got a couple of nice hits, and I need that from my seniors. They gotta pick up the load."

Hillesheim went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Waibel went 2-for-2 with RBI with three runs scored and Gieseke went 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

Brittney Hagert got the only hit for the Mustangs, a line drive to left in the top of the third with Wendy Berg on first. Berg tried scoring on the play, but was thrown out at the plate to keep the shutout intact.

Wendy Berg was the losing pitcher, striking out three.

Cathedral (1-0) is at McLeod West Thursday while the Mustangs (0-1) are at Minnesota Valley Lutheran Thursday.

The Cathedral "B" squad won 7-0 over the New Ulm High ninth-grade team. Katie Stueber had a double and an RBI. Erin Schugel had a single and an RBI and Stueber struck out 16 with one walk. The "C" squad no-hit BL-H 18-0. Meghan Schwartz went 2-for-2 with two home runs and Sally Schreiber had a double. Megan Forst went 2-for-2.