Two runs in ninth lift ’Cats

By Jim Metcalfe, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Friday, May 9, 2008 (2 months, 1 week ago)
Print

DELPHOS — Sophomore Brittany Garza hit a 2-run bases-loaded double with one out in the ninth inning Wednesday night, giving Jefferson a thrilling 8-7 softball victory over Wayne Trace at Lady Wildcat Field.
The visiting Lady Raiders (8-12) had taken a 7-6 lead in the top of the ninth on a single and 2-base error by Shelby Critten (2-for-5, 3 RBIs) and another error on a strikeout in the dirt.
Brooke Apple led off the Lady Wildcat (8-8) ninth with a bloop double to right center off Marcie McDougle (5-6; 8 1/3 IP, 13 hits, 8 runs, 3 earned, 1 walk, 8 Ks). Shauna Bowers (4-for-5, 2 runs batted in) got an infield hit off third baseman Morgan Lee’s glove and Jenna Miller’s single up the gut juiced the bases. With the Raider infield playing way in, second baseman Critten had no chance to snag Garza’s liner that found the right-centerfield gap; Apple and Bowers both scored for the winning runs.
“We hung in and kept putting the ball in play. That is key for a young team; to stay aggressive,” Jefferson coach Brad Rostorfer noted. “Winning today was a sign of continuing improvement; we never got down and kept coming back. We made a few errors in the field today but our defense has generally been good. It was just one of those days we’ve had few and far between.”
For Raiders coach Melanie Forrer, it was giving away too many runs that cost them in the end.
“It’s to the point now where we’re beating ourselves. We committed too many errors to get to that point,” Forrer explained.
Bowers (6-5; 3 IP, 1 hit, 5 strikeouts) got the win in relief of Apple (6 IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned, 3 walks, 2 Ks).
“That’s a great luxury to have. Brooke does a nice job and gives us a quality start, then we can bring in Shauna,” Rostorfer continued. “I wanted to give her some throws because we didn’t have a game Tuesday and we play (today); I just didn’t think it would be three innings. I was going to go to her in the sixth but Brooke told me she felt fine.”
The Raiders scored three runs in that frame on a 3-run 2-bagger by Critten to go up 6-5.
The hosts forced extra innings in the home half of the seventh. With one out, Megan Moreo ripped a double down the right-field line, went to third on Apple’s grounder to the right side and scored on a hard-hit comebacker off McDougle’s leg by Bowers. Miller was hit on the very next pitch but McDougle got the final out to force extra innings.
“Marcie was a thrower at the start of the year but has become a pitcher now. We have two more years to see her develop,” Forrer added. “Shelby has been in a self-termed slump but snapped out of it today. What I was disappointed in were the called third strikes (four). That’s too many.”
The Raiders got two unearned runs in the first, brought in on an error and a hit by Lee.
The Lady ’Cats threatened in the home half on consecutive 1-out hits by Apple and Bowers but Apple was caught trying to get to third on an overthrow to first, trying to get Bowers.
The Red, White and Blue made it 3-0 in the third on a squeeze bunt by Lee, scoring Becky Ruble, who’d gotten on via a throwing error.
The Red and Black got two back in the bottom half. Jessica Bland walked and advanced on a wild pitch. An out later, Moreo got aboard via a 3-base throwing error, scoring Bland. In turn, she scored on Apple’s comebacker, beating the relay from first.
They took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth. With one gone, Bland (center) and Courtney Rostorfer (right) singled, with an error on the sequence scoring Bland and putting Rostorfer at third. Moreo got an RBI and got aboard on a booted ground ball. An out later, she stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a line double to left center by Bowers.
Jefferson visits Ada this afternoon (weather permitting) and Wayne Trace visits Lincolnview Friday.

0 Reader Responses to “Two runs in ninth lift ’Cats”

Complete the form below to leave a response of your own.