Tigers crank out the hits in playoffs

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

REDWOOD FALLS -- Springfield had played St. Mary's close all season, so when the Tigers pulled ahead 9-0 in the top of the seventh inning in the Section 3A softball playoffs Monday, they breathed a sigh of relief.

The sigh was almost too big.

St. Mary's took advantage of two Tiger errors and hit the ball well in the bottom of the seventh to score four runs before Springfield even got the second out. Nicki Thordson caught a line drive to seal the 9-5 win and advance No. 3 Springfield to play Wabasso at 3 p.m. today in Montevideo.

The first-seeded Rabbits beat Dawson-Boyd 7-2 Saturday to advance. St. Mary's plays Dawson-Boyd at 4:30 p.m. in Montevideo.

"We've gotta play tough defense [against Wabasso]," Springfield coach Paul Dunn said. "We've turned the corner defensively. We're more relaxed. I think we're playing pretty good softball toward the end of the year."

In Monday's game, Springfield's bats heated up in the third as the Tigers pounced, leaping to a 5-0 lead. The Knights allowed ten batters to the plate. Danielle Feser and Christa Reiner scored when Kim Weedman hit a single to deep right-center. Katelin McNutt hit a triple to the right-field fence to drive home Weedman and Naomi Timm.

McNutt went 2-for-4 with the triple, two RBIs and scoring twice.

"It [that inning] was very important," Christa Reiner said. Reiner went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and scoring twice. "We didn't have to worry about it in the middle innings -- it gave us a cushion and got us fired up."

It didn't hurt that the Tigers retired three straight batters in the third inning as pitcher Tiffany Wilhelmi threw only four pitches. After the Tigers added a run in the fourth, Wilhelmi went through just three pitches to end the fourth.

Thordson went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a sacrifice bunt. Wilhelmi struck out two, walked one and gave up seven hits.

"I think our defense kinda got in their head a little bit," Reiner said.

"We were going after the pitch too quickly," Knights coach Wendy Owens said. "I told them that we had to be more disciplined."

The Tigers added two runs in the fifth and another in the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Knights gained momentum. Starting pitcher Raina Walter and Nikki Hertling hit gaps, and Liza Schwartz, Amanda Helget and Jonalyn cook knocked three in. Schwartz scored on error before the line-drive to third.

"I think we didn't relax enough," Reiner said. "We got shaken up about it, but we kept our heads in it."

"It's not typical for us -- we get a couple runs here and there," Owens said. "We grouped them in one group in both games today. In this game, it was just too late."

In their first game, the Knights scored seven runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 1-1 tie with Murray County Central, winning 8-2 to advance to the second round.

Springfield 12, Comfrey/Cedar Mountain 5

In Springfield's first game, they beat Comfrey/Cedar Mountain 12-5, ending the Rockets season at 7-9.

Early in the game, it looked to be close. Springfield scored three in the first inning, aided by three Comfrey errors. Rockets starting pitcher Abby Kelly got all three outs at the plate.

"This same problem has been plaguing us all year -- errors," Rockets coach Amy Lee said. C/MC is only in the third year of the softball program. "On good days, they're as good as most teams. On bad days ..."

But the Rockets tied it up in the fourth 4-4. Heather Berberich, Megan Olson, Emily Mathiowetz and Abby Kelly all had singles.

The Tigers added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take back the lead, then took off again in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring six more runs.

"The momentum from the big hits we get keeps everyone else going," Tigers Nicki Thordson said. "Along with defense, we need offense. But it starts with defense and being able to field the ball and get outs."

Thordson went 2-for-3 with a double, a sacrifice bunt, an RBI and scored twice. Reiner also had a double and Weedman had a triple and scored three runs. Crystal Schwanke went 2-for-3 with an in-the-park home run. The Rockets Abby Kelly went 3-for-3.