MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (May 27–June 3)
WIAA D3 Softball Regional Final: No. 4 Richland Center 5, No. 1 Dodgeville 4
By Erik Olson, Richland Observer
Hornets survive extra innings, protest to eliminate Dodgers
DODGEVILLE — Jaycee Gander raced home with the go-ahead run and freshman Kyree Fischer preserved as the No. 4 seed Richland Center Hornets derailed the top-seeded Dodgeville Dodgers, 5–4, in extra innings to win the WIAA D3 Regional softball title at Dodgeville Thursday, May 29.
For the second in two weeks, coach Jamey Gander’s team knocked off the SWC champions and top-seeded team in the half-sectional. The win sent the Hornets into the D3 Sectional semi-finals against Prairie du Chien at Prairie du Chien, and the winner will play for the sectional title and a berth in the WIAA State Tournament against the winner of the Poynette/Marshall clash on Thursday.
The Hornets defeated the Dodgers for the second time in three meetings this season. The outcome of the game was somewhat uncertain until Friday because of the umpire’s use of a “ghost-runner” at second base in extra innings. Dodgeville filed a protest, but the WIAA denied it. Before the game, game umpires told team officials that was going to be used should extra innings be needed.
Although many expected two runs would be enough to win game, it was 3-2 after the first inning. The Hornets started quickly, Carley Mieden doubled and scored on Fischer’ single before Gander cracked a shot over the fence for a two-run homer. Dodgeville quickly responded when DH Karen Brown hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the first.
Dodgeville tied the game when Brown’s single scored Ava Lord in the third. Dodgeville took the lead in the fourth when Tommi Crubaugh homered. But the Hornets tied the game in the fifth. Abaigeal Williams walked, stole second and scored on Mieden’s second hit of the game.
In the eighth inning, Gander, the ghost-runner, raced home on an errant throw following Maddie McGlynn’s sacrifice bunt. It was the only error of the game. In the bottom of the eighth, ‘ghost-runner” Forsyth went to third on a wild pitch and Emma Dougherty walked but Fischer fanned three hitters to leave them stranded. Fischer allowed six hits and six walks. She had nine strikeouts including six in the last 2.1 innings.
Lord was the losing pitcher. She allowed seven hits and three walks while whiffing five.
NOTE: Richland Center went on to blank Prairie du Chien 8–0 in last Tuesday's sectional semifinal before suffering a season-ending 5–1 loss to Poynette in the D3 sectional finals last Thursday, June 5.
