Greyhounds grab opportunities

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm Cathedral softball coach Bob Mertz is a firm believer in seizing the opportunity when it arises.

With that strategy in mind, Cathedral ran wild on the base paths and defeated McLeod West 17-2 Monday in Tomahawk Conference softball action at Harman Park.

The Greyhounds took advantage of numerous passed balls and wild pitches, not to mention the six times they advanced via the stolen base. Coach Mertz was pleased with his team's aggressiveness.

"Our whole philosophy here is, no matter who's on the mound, you gotta be aggressive and you gotta take advantage of mistakes," Mertz said. "And you gotta make them pay for when they make mistakes. I don't mind if they don't steal home, but always take an extra base [when you can].

"If the catcher drops the ball, I need you to go," he said. "If there's an overthrow some place, you gotta go. That's just playing good softball."

The Greyhounds were eager to take advantage of every chance they got in the first inning as they took a 5-0 lead thanks to five wild pitches and three walks issued by McLeod West starter Crystal Smestad.

Nikki Fischer singled to score Kyley Hillesheim and Liesl Genelin. Then, with the bases loaded, Melissa Kraus walked to make it 3-0. Katie Gieseke singled in two runs for the 5-0 cushion.

"After the first inning, we scored those five runs and they were down, but I was impressed that we were off the bench and we still were cheering," Mertz said. "We still were in the game, and you gotta be in the game, even with games like this."

The Greyhounds scored four more runs in the second after Fischer and Julie Seifert had back-to-back singles to start the inning. Both scored on a grounder to short that turned into an error to make it 7-0.

With two outs, Kraus singled to center, but the ball went under the glove of center fielder Melissa Benson, enabling Kraus to score on the three-base error. Gieseke scored Cathedral's ninth run on an errant throw by catcher Amanda Peterson.

The Greyhounds had their only rough inning in the third after Marrisa Polzin singled. Benson's bunt was thrown into center field by Seifert and it put runners on first and second for Laura Loncorich.

Loncorich singled to center, and Kraus mishandled the ball, scoring both runners to make it 9-2.

"We committed a few errors, but we pulled it back together with our pitching," Gieseke said. "Julie did a nice job today."

McLeod West got a bit of a scare in the third when Kraus lined a shot off the leg of Smestad, scoring two runs. Peterson finished the game for the Falcons on the mound.

In the fourth inning, Gieseke took advantage of a slow, high offering from Peterson and drove it at shortstop Loncorich. Loncorich was unable to field the play and two more runs scored, giving the Greyhounds a 17-2 lead.

"I try to hit the top of the ball and drive it as hard as I can," Gieseke said. "We've been working at practice at turning our hips and using them." Gieseke went 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Cathedral was also led by Fischer, who went 2-for-4 with four runs. Seifert went 2-for-2 with four runs and also got the win. She pitched four innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven.

Kraus finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Cathedral (7-1) hosts Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Thursday.

McLeod West (0-7) hosts Buffalo Lake-Hector Thursday.

The "B" squad won 12-1. Katie Stueber was the winning pitcher, striking out seven and allowing three hits. Holly Helget had a two-run single and Erin Schugel had a two-run double.

The "C" squad won 8-2 and 5-3 over New Ulm Public.

Catherine Kral won the first game and Molly Boyle went 3-3 with a double. Melissa Boddy went 2-3. In the second game, Meghan Schwartz struck out seven, allowing four hits. She also went 1-1 with a double.