Tough pitching stops Eagles: Waconia scores three runs on three hits

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- For the final four innings, Waconia didn't have an answer for New Ulm pitcher Jocelyn Janni.

But for the first six innings, the Eagles couldn't solve Waconia pitcher Rachel Mowry either.

New Ulm finally got to the Waconia hurler in the seventh inning, but it was a case of a little too late as the Eagles dropped the nonconference softball opener to the Wildcats 3-1 Thursday at Harman Park.

New Ulm's Amanda Bode, who pitched the first three innings. She gave up three runs on three hits. Janni retired the first eight batters she faced and pitched a hitless four innings.

Janni, Ashley Hoffmann and Angie Seifert had New Ulm's three hits.

"I thought our kids tried really hard tonight -- they did a good job," New Ulm coach Jim Pearson said. "She's a nice little pitcher over there at Waconia. She threw the ball well, threw the ball hard. Maybe for our first time out, we weren't ready for that speed at that moment. We've got a ways to go, but we'll be alright."

In the top of the first, Waconia grabbed a 1-0 lead after Kellie Hoch reached on a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on Melissa Mowry's single, but Bode stranded two Waconia runners when she struck out Megan Sipper.

Rachel Mowry struck out the first three batters she faced before Janni led off the second with a single. She moved over on Hoffmann's sacrifice bunt and eventually took third before being stranded.

Waconia tacked on a couple more runs in the top of the third. Hoch reached via an error and moved to second on a Tracy Kelzer sac bunt. Rachel Mowry singled to put runners on first and third, and Amanda Clemenson grounded to third, scoring Hoch to make it 2-0.

Melissa Mowry drove in Rachel Mowry with a double to left, adding to the Waconia lead.

The Eagles had only one hit until the seventh inning and stranded a couple more runners, but didn't score their first run until the bottom of the seventh.

"We mentioned in the post-game huddle we had in right field, that at this level you see some good pitching, and that was a quicker pitcher maybe than some of these kids coming up from 'B' squad," Pearson said. "I don't know if they've seen that in the summer, but that's good speed there."

Hoffmann hit a hard grounder that went under the first baseman's glove, and Angie Seifert followed with another one-out single. Both moved up a base on a passed ball, and Hoffmann scored on a grounder to first for New Ulm's only run.

Waconia finished with one error and New Ulm had three.

"I'm sure there was some jitters in the first couple innings for everybody, and we'll be better next Tuesday," Pearson said.

New Ulm (0-1) is at St. Peter Tuesday.

MR 5, MT 0

MAPLETON -- Maple River pitcher Devin Fitzsimmons struck out 15 as the Eagles shut out Madelia/Truman Thursday in Valley Conference softball action.

Laura Pace took the loss for the Jayhawks. She struck out three and walked four. Ashley Eager, Laura Pace, and Dani Urban each went 1-for-3.

Sleepy Eye 8,

Redwood Valley 6

SLEEPY EYE -- Sleepy Eye's Nicole Krebs was the winning pitcher, striking out 10 and allowing five hits in seven innings as the Indians won the nonconference softball game Thursday.

Kristi Schieffert went 2-for-4 with a run and Sam Widmer went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Ashley Roiger scored two runs for the Indians.

For Redwood Valley, Katie Smith went 1-for-2 with three runs and Kristi Curry scored a run, had a double and two RBIs.

Sibley East 8, NYA 7

GAYLORD -- Sibley East's Brianna Glisczinski doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as the Wolverines defeated Norwood-Young America Thursday in Minnesota River Conference softball action.

Glisczinski went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Teammate Rachel Kirckhof went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Julie Ihrke got the win, striking out four and allowing five hits in seven innings.

Sibley East (2-0) is at Montgomery/Lonsdale Monday.

McLeod West 15, RCW 2

DANUBE -- McLeod West took advantage of eight Renville County West errors and won the nonconference softball game Thursday.

Louise Tongen got the win, allowing six hits and striking out one.

Kelli Loncorich went 2-for-2 with a double and a run and Amanda Peterson went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run for the Falcons. Erin Mauer scored three runs and had two stolen bases and Tonya Bruggman went 1-for-1 with a run. Kim Egge went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases.

McLeod West (2-1) hosts Springfield Tuesday in Brownton.