Greyhounds win with fewer errors

Both Chargers and Cathedral look to

improve record today

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- A combined 11 errors as well as mental mistakes made the 4-1 Cathedral win over Minnesota Valley Lutheran less than stellar, but it was telling for both softball teams.

For the Greyhounds, the game showed the girls that they need to concentrate on base running and timely hitting going into their doubleheader today against Wabasso, which is yet undefeated in the Tomahawk Conference, and sub-section seedings, which are Wednesday.

For the Chargers, the team needs to get through what should be a tough, close game with fewer errors, being mentally ready to play the whole game through.

"I don't know if it was because we are both rivals or if it is because it was a big game if we want to win conference. I don't know," Katie Gieseke, who had two singles and reached on error twice for Cathedral. "But we've gotta clean it up if we want to beat Wabasso [today]."

In the first inning, the Greyhounds handed MVL a scoring opportunity when the first two players reached on error. Alissa Michels then came through with a double to score Jennie Burt, MVL's only run of the game. Then, when Cathedral pitcher Sam Bode struck out the next three batters -- three of her eight total strikeouts -- the Chargers left runners stranded on second and third.

MVL coach Julie Detjen felt that her players just were not in the game. She "wasn't happy early on, then some missed signals came in, and it put pressure on our defense."

"The lead, we gave to them," Detjen said. "Mentally we were not ready to go; we were non-aggressive. We booted balls in groups -- it was a contagious effort."

In the second inning, Cathedral pulled ahead with the help of a couple hits and a couple MVL errors. Melissa Kraus and Shelly Waibel both singled to start it off. Kraus scored and Katie Gieseke reached first when two MVL players collided trying to field a pop-up. Kyley Hillesheim scored Waibel and reached first on error. The Greyhounds had one more hit before MVL got out of the inning.

"It's like we play so many innings strong, then in some we lose it and have errors," said Alissa Michels, who had the lone Charger RBI. "We are not consistent throughout the whole game."

The Chargers left seven runners on base in the game, and they were only errorless in the seventh.

In inning six, Cathedral added two to their score when Julie Seifert hit a two-RBI double to push Gieseke and Hillesheim home. The Greyhounds could have possibly extended their sixth-inning streak, but questionable base running had given them one out early in the inning.

"We made some mistakes in the base path," Greyhound coach Bob Mertz said. "I don't like it when we are doing what we shouldn't be doing at this point."

Mertz also would like to see his girls have hits when they are needed.

"When we get into scoring position, we need to have someone step forward and get a big hit," he said. "We left seven players stranded in scoring position tonight."

Mertz is optimistic about their doubleheader at Wabasso today, but also acknowledges that it will be difficult for Cathedral (14-3, 13-2) to secure first place in the conference by beating them twice.

MVL (10-6, 8-5) hosts Sleepy Eye for a doubleheader today as well, and hopes to be prepared, as Sleepy Eye is 10-5 and 8-5.

The Cathedral B-squad beat MVL 8-2. Katie Stueber threw a two-hitter and had nine strikeouts. Holly Helget had two hits and an RBI, and Kayla Larson had a hit and an RBI. They are now 14-1.

St. Mary's 3, GFW 2

GIBBON -- Cassie Schumacher was the winning pitcher, striking out three and allowing five hits as Sleepy Eye St. Mary's defeated Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop in the Tomahawk Conference softball game.

Nikki Hertling went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jonalyn Cook had a single and a run scored and Noah Helget had a double and two RBIs for the Knights.

Samantha Grewe went 2-for-3 for the Thunderbirds, while Bethany Werner went 1-for-4 and Heidi Bruns went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Nea Harkness took the loss, striking out three and giving up six hits.

GFW (6-12, 5-10) is at Wabasso Thursday.

Wabasso 23, BLH 0

HECTOR -- Katie Schumacher went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs as Wabasso won the Tomahawk Conference softball game Monday.

Schumacher also had two doubles. Angie Beranek went 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Audrey Fennern went 2-for-2 with three runs scored. The Rabbits had 14 hits.

Brittney Jennigs was the winning pitcher, striking out two and allowing one hit.