Rabbits jump ahead in extra innings

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Wabasso sophomore first baseman Katie Schumaker started off a four-run streak with an RBI single in the ninth inning to give the Rabbits an 8-4 victory over Minnesota Valley Lutheran Monday.

"I was just thinking 'I gotta hit the ball, just gotta hit the ball," Schumaker said. "[The ninth inning], we got out there, hit the ball and found our spot."

"We were hitting the ball [earlier], it just wasn't going for us," Rabbit coach John VanLoy said. "I told them to keep hitting and go in there."

And it paid off. The Rabbits (3-0) had tied the game in the top of the seventh when Brigette Grunwald knocked Brittney Jenninges home, then scored four runs in the ninth to win. MVL (2-2) left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth inning, unable to score any runs in the last four innings.

"We missed some signals," Charger coach Julie Detjen said. "We've got to learn to become smarter on the base paths and in the box in crunch time."

Coach VanLoy thought that his team also could have improved in the error department. They made two fielding errors and one base-running error.

"In a tight ball game like this -- we gave them some runs," he said. "MVL has come a long way in the last few years."

On the up side for the improving MVL team, Detjen said that the girls were able to do some things early on that they hadn't done before. The girls made a few successful slap bunts and sacrifice bunts. They also ran a state-ranked team into extra innings. At the beginning of the season, Wabasso was ranked sixth in the state for Class A softball, just above Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, and four slots above Cathedral.

Katelyn Rublik relieved Wabasso's Ashley Wahl in the fifth inning and went on to take the win. She gave up five walks and one hit in four innings, striking out four. Rublik gave up four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out two. The losing pitcher was MVL's Alissa Michels, who relieved Jennie Burt in the seventh inning; Michels gave up five runs on four hits, walking four. Burt gave up two runs on four hits, giving up one walk and striking out one.

Andrea Fennern went 2-3 for the Rabbits, scoring twice; April Fennern also scored twice, going 2-4, including a home run. Schumaker was 2-4 with two RBIs, and Megan Heiling went 2-5 with two RBIs.

Burt led the Chargers, going 4-5 and scoring twice. Janelle Fischer went 3-5 with one RBI.

"We should be 4-0," Detjen said. "We made some physical errors against St. Mary's, and some mental errors tonight. And it doesn't get easier, because we play Cathedral [today]."

The Chargers play Cathedral at Harmon Park today at 4:30 p.m.; Wabasso travels to Buffalo Lake-Hector.

SESM 10, BL-H 0

SLEEPY EYE -- Cole Helget tossed a no-hitter for Sleepy Eye St. Mary's as he walked one in five innings over Buffalo Lake-Hector.

Helget went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Matt Mathiowetz went 1-for-3. Andy Cook went 1-for-3 with a double and Bret Braulick went 1-1 with a double and three walks.

Bret Witter gave up nine hits and 10 runs, walking five and striking out one.

St. Mary's (5-1), 3-1 plays Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop today at Fairfax.

Springfield 6, GFW 2

FAIRFAX -- Springfield's Ashley Tauer was the winning pitcher as Springfield won the Tomahawk Conference softball game.

Tauer allowed seven hits and struck out three. She walked two.

Kim Wedman went 3-for-4 with a run and two doubles and Lindsey Lindmeier went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run for Springfield. Sara Hillesheim went 3-for-4 with a run, a stolen base, and a triple for the Tigers.

For GFW, Nea Harkness was the losing pitcher. She gave up 12 hits, six runs, and struck out eight. She also went 2-for-4. Ashley Vorwerck went 1-for-4 with a run and Holly Bruns scored a run.

GFW (2-4) is at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's today.

Worthington 4,

Red Rock Central 2

WORTHINGTON -- It was a low scoring affair in Worthington as Red Rock Central fell to the Trojans 4-2.

The score was tied going into the sixth inning but Worthington scored two runs and Central could not come back for the win.

The Cardinals had 7 hits and 3 errors. Jen Olsen went 2-3 from the plate and had a triple. Blair Meyer also went 2-3 from the plate.

Mel Schmidt of Red Rock Central was the losing pitcher. She pitched 6 innings, had 4 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts and two hit batters.

Red rock Central's next game will be at home in Jeffers against Murray County Central on Thursday.

Madelia Truman 5,

MLBO 3

MOUNTAIN LAKE -- Laura Pace helped lead the Madelia/Truman Jayhawks to a 3-5 victory over the Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin Wolverines in Prep softball yesterday.

Pace was the winning pitcher with 7 hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts. She also hit a three RBI double. She was assisted by Amber Tatro and Amanda Heckman who had 7 and 6 stolen bases, respectively.

Emily Aldwin was the losing pitcher. She had one hit , 10 walks, 10 strikeouts and she hit one batter.

Naomi Winters went 3-4 at the plate with two RBI's. Kanssa Haglund was 2-3 and Tracy Hildebrand was 1-3 with a RBI double. MLBO will play at SVRLB/SSC on Thursday.