Greyhounds split with Falcons

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- This was a big win. So big they even took a team picture after the game.

The McLeod West Falcons have had a frustrating and disappointing season. But the Falcons erased some of that disappointment and frustration by beating the Tomahawk Conference champions Tuesday.

After a 9-2 first-game loss, the Falcons rebounded to take the second game 4-3, handing the New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds a meaningless loss in the second game of the softball doubleheader at Harman Park.

But it was a meaningful win for the Falcons.

"I'm speechless at first," McLeod West coach Tom Lemke said. "Cathedral's such a good ballclub, defensively and offensively."

Granted it was after the Greyhounds (16-3, 14-2 Tomahawk) had clinched the Tomahawk Conference title with the victory in the first game. But Cathedral, while making a few lineup changes in the second game, didn't pull any punches.

"They deserved that game, they worked hard," Cathedral coach Bob Mertz said. "They made some nice plays. We had our chances."

But the Greyhounds came up with nothing in their final chance to win the game. Trailing 4-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Cathedral had runners at second and third with one out.

But Steph Todd (4-6) got Jessica Lewis looking and Nikki Fischer flied out to shallow center to end the threat and give McLeod West (6-12, 5-9) perhaps its biggest win of the season.

"Steph Todd pitched a heckuva game," Lemke said. "And our defense came around, which I was hoping for. We've got some of the right combinations in there now, I hope. I think we're getting ready for the playoffs."

Todd earned the complete-game win, allowing only four hits to the Greyhounds. She struck out two and walked three.

The Falcons trailed 3-2 before rallying for the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ashley Olson's two-out double down the left-field line off Amber Franta (14-3), the first-game winner, scored Brenda Nelson and Amanda Peterson.

Both McLeod West runs in the sixth were unearned.

Franta's blown save took the decision away from Cathedral starter Sam Bode. Bode went the first five innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on four hits.

"Sammi doesn't really have to throw a lot right now, but next year she's going to be our back-up pitcher," Mertz said. "I wanted to give her a chance to throw a varsity game. She threw pretty well. ... I came back with Amber and they just hit her."

Olson had the only multiple-hit game in the nightcap, going 2-for-3.

The Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a walk to Cassie Messner, back-to-back two-out singles by Todd and Steph Farenbaugh, and one of four Cathedral errors. McLeod West only stranded four runners, but twice had runners at third base with one out and failed to plate either runner.

"The way things are going the second half to the year, we're building more confidence," Lemke said. "If we play competitively against good teams, anything can happen in the playoffs."

Franta fared better in the first game. She worked the first six innings, allowing two runs on four hits; Franta struck out six and walked just one.

Franta was perfect through four innings. She lost the perfect game on the first pitch in the top of the fifth inning.

Farenbaugh singled solidly to center field, and Nelson and Peterson made it three singles in a row. Peterson's single scored Farenbaugh and Jill Schuster's two-out single up the middle scored Nelson.

But Franta retired the Falcons in order in the sixth and Julie Seifert got the final three outs in the seventh.

The Greyhounds were much more productive in the first game off Olson (2-6). Cathedral got all the runs it needed in the fourth, scoring four runs, including a two-RBI single by Seifert.

Nikki Fischer pushed the Greyhound margin to 5-0 with an inside-the-park home run to the gap in left to lead off the third inning. Cathedral went up 8-0 with three runs in the fourth and scored its final run in the fifth inning.

"I thought we looked real good in the first game," Mertz said. "We played real well defensively behind Amber and Amber was snapping the ball real well. She was in control of her game."

McLeod West will travel to Springfield Friday for a Tomahawk Conference doubleheader. Cathedral will host LeSueur-Henderson Monday in a nonconference game.

In junior varsity action, Cathedral took two from the Falcons, 14-2 and 14-0. Both games were ended on the 10-rule after five innings.

Krissy Dittrich got the win in the first game, throwing a four-hitter and striking out five. Katie Beranek tripled and drove in four runs, and Chelsey Hillesheim had three RBI for Cathedral (15-1).

Katie Stueber one-hit the Falcons in the second game, striking out six. Catherine Miheve was 3-for-3 with four RBI and Becky Hosna went 2-for-2 with three RBI.

1st Game

MCLEOD WEST 000 020 0--2 5 4

CATHEDRAL 041 310 x--9 6 0

Olson and Nelson. Franta, Seifert (7) and Hofmeister. W--Franta 14-2. L--Olson 2-6. 2B--Cathedral, Genelin. 3B--None. HR--Cathedral, N.Fischer.

2nd Game

CATHEDRAL 000 201 0--3 4 4

MCLEOD WEST 002 002 x--4 6 4

Bode, Franta (6) and Hofmeister. Todd and Peterson. W--Todd 4-6. L--Franta 14-3. 2B--McLeod West, Olson. 3B--None. HR--None.