Greyhounds remain unbeaten

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The team that can do the little things did. And nearly to perfection.

Manufacturing runs almost as well as a coach could diagram them up, Class 1A No. 4 New Ulm Cathedral decisioned Springfield/Cedar Mountain/Comfrey 6-1 Friday in Tomahawk Conference softball. The Greyhounds recorded eight hits in the win and all were singles.

"We did a real nice job of doing the little things well tonight," Cathedral coach Bob Mertz said. "We're going to make things happen. ... We're going to have to get runs early and put a little pressure on (opponents). So we're always going to do this."

Not that the Greyhounds mind doing the little things.

"We just have a lot speed on our team so we use it to our advantage," junior Kristin Beranek said. "We're just going to do what we need to get the runs in."

The bottom of the second inning was textbook little ball. Cathedral scored three runs and had only one ball get out of the infield.

Senior Tessa Hodapp singled to right to lead off the inning -- the first of three straight singles for Cathedral (6-0, 6-0 Tomahawk). Kelly Kuehn and Kari Franta followed with back-to-back bunt singles, showing that Greyhound speed.

With the bases loaded, Nikki Fischer drew a walk to give Cathedral a 2-1 lead. Beranek reached on an error, scoring another run, and Jessica Lewis flied out to right to plate the Greyhounds' third run of the inning.

Cathedral added another run in the third off SCMC starter Katie Baier (2-2), who gave up four earned runs on seven hits, before adding its final run in the sixth off Ashley Tauer.

Kelly Kuehn led the Greyhounds, going 2-for-2 with three runs scored. Beranek, Wilfahrt and Fischer each had one hit and drove in a run.

"Our girls feel real good about being able to move a runner up from first to second, moving a runner from second to third, scoring a runner," Mertz said. "I think they feel kind of bad when they don't get the job done. This is fastpitch softball."

Greyhound pitcher Dee Wilfahrt (4-0) did her job, too. The junior threw a two-hitter, striking out four and walking only one.

"It was my best game," Wilfahrt said. "My drops were working very good today. ... I was focused on it today. I knew Springfield was going to be a better team so I was mentally prepared for that."

Sara Anderson was the only SCMC (3-3, 2-2) hitter to solve Wilfahrt. The senior collected both hits in going 2-for-3 with a triple and scored the Tigers' only run.

"The bats were asleep today," SCMC coach Rachael Peterson said. "And Cathedral executes everything. That's the difference between them and other teams."

SCMC will play at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's Tuesday. Cathedral will host Sleepy Eye High Tuesday.

In the junior varsity game, Cathedral edged SCMC 5-4. Melissa Kraus singled in Amanda Domeier for the winning run.

Jessica Stadich went 1-for-2 with a double for Cathedral. Julie Seifert got the win, allowing seven hits and striking out six.

In the freshman game, Cathedral pounded SCMC 21-0 in five innings. Sam Bode got the win, allowing one hit in three innings and striking out seven.

Becky Hosun and Liz Prunty each went 2-for-2 with a double and Chelsey Beranek stole five bases.

SCMC 010 000 0--1 2 3

Catherdral 131 001 x--6 8 2

Baier, Tauer (5) and Dauer. Wilfahrt and Balbach. W--Wilfahrt 4-0. L--Baier 2-2. HRs--None.