MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (March 27–April 2)
PREP SOFTBALL: Lancaster 10, Potosi/Cassville 9
By A.J. Gates, Herald Independent
Arrows prevail in season-opening thriller over Panthers
LANCASTER — Following a 6–5 season-opening victory over Iowa-Grant three nights earlier where the game-winning run was scored in the bottom of the seventh inning, coach Josh Jensen and his Lancaster varsity softball team came up with another thrilling victory last Thursday night, defeating Potosi/Cassville 10–9, with another walk-off win.
With the Arrows and coach Mark Siegert’s Chieftains knotted at 9–9 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lancaster junior Emma Jensen hit a two-out single to score freshman Amelia Johnson, giving the Arrows (2–0) their second win of the season, and the Chieftains (1–1) their first loss.
With a four-run rally in the bottom of the third inning, Lancaster had taken control the game early in Thursday night’s meeting.
In the bottom of the third, senior Abi Mergen started things off for the Arrows with a lead-off double and was moved over to third on a single by Jensen. Sophomore pitcher Maddy Hill reached base on an error during a bunt, which allowed Mergen to score and Jensen to take second. Jensen later scored on a sacrifice fly hit by junior Aleah Jackering.
Courtesy running for Hill, Kya Streif scored on an RBI single hit by junior Izzy Schmidt, who later scored on an RBI single hit by freshman catcher Addison Morgan.
Potosi/Cassville answered in the top of the fifth inning, plating six runs to take a 6–4 lead over their host. In the fifth, the Chieftains used four walks, one error, a hit by pitch and two hits to score six runs. Junior Madi Weber and senior Natalee Fried each had RBI doubles, Weber scoring senior Wynne Siegert, and Fried to score Weber.
One run by the Arrows in the bottom of the fifth, and three more by the Chieftains in the top of the seventh, gave coach Siegert’s squad a commanding 9–5 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
That’s where the Arrows used five hits and one walk to score five runs, getting a one-run double from freshman Lilian Edge, a two-run single from Amelia Johnson, and one-run singles from Addison Morgan and Emma Jensen.
The Arrows, who finished with 13 hits, got a team-high four from Abi Mergen, while Jensen and Morgan each had two. Morgan also had a team-high three RBIs, while Johnson had two.
Picking up the win in the pitching circle for the Arrows was Edge, who in the final two innings allowed three earned runs off five hits, while striking out one batter and walking one.
Hill started the game in the pitching circle for Lancaster, allowing three earned runs off four hits in the first five innings. She also struck out 10 batters and walked three before being replaced by Izzy Schmidt in the sixth.
Taking the loss for Potosi/Cassville was Elle Pierce, who in 6 2/3 innings allowed 10 runs, six earned, off 13 hits. The junior pitcher also struck out five batters and walked four.
Of Potosi/Cassville’s nine hits, Weber and Fried each had two, while junior Serena Flores finished with a team-high two RBIs.
For the Arrows, this past Monday and Tuesday nights games against Belmont and River Ridge have both been postponed due to rainy weather with make-up dates yet to be determined.
Lancaster 10, Potosi/Cassville 9
(from Thursday, March 28, at Lancaster)
Potosi/Cass....000 060 3 - 9 9 2
Lancaster........004 010 5 - 10 13 0
Leading hitters - P/C: Madi Weber 2x4, Natalee Fried 2x4; L: Abi Mergen 4x5, Emma Jensen 2x4, Addison Morgan 2x4. 2B - Weber (P/C), Fried (P/C), Serena Flores (P/C), Mergen (L), Lilian Edge (L). W - Lilian Edge (2IN,5H,3ER,1K,1BB). L - Elle Pierce (6.2IN,13H,6ER,5K,4BB). Other pitchers - L: Maddy Hill (5IN,4H,3ER,10K,3BB), Izzy Schmidt (0IN,0H,2ER,1K,2BB).
