Hayfield softball team moves within one win of state tourney
Published 10:42 pm Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Hayfield’s Brooke Zahnle just makes it back ahead of the tag of Chatfield’s Megan LaPlante during a pick-off attempt from home in the Section 1A playoffs Wednesday at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Hayfield softball team didn’t flinch when it faced an early deficit and it made some clutch plays to close out a 5-4 win over Chatfield in a Section 1A semifinal game in Todd Park Wednesday.
The Vikings are now one win from their first state tournament berth since 1994 and Hayfield will play Fillmore Central in the Section 1A finals 5 p.m. Thursday in Todd Park.
Hayfield third baseman Olivia Matti makes the play on a grounder while behind Jackie Sanvick turns to cover third against Chatfield in the Section 1A playoffs Wednesday at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield freshman Maggie Streightiff gave the Vikings (20-4 overall) the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning when she drilled a two-out RBI single up the middle.
“I just knew I had to keep my composure,” Streightiff said of the at-bat. “I just had to stay calm and swing.”
The Gophers (19-5 overall), who ended Hayfield’s season last year, had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh inning when Hayfield pitcher Jackie Sanvick forced back-to-back pop outs to end the game. Sanvick allowed just two earned runs in the game and she held Chatfield scoreless for the last four innings. Hayfield tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth when Alexis Dudycha hit a sacrifice fly.
The Vikings trailed 3-0 in the first inning after they committed a costly two-out error that led to two runs, but they didn’t panic.
“You’ve got to keep your head up or things won’t really go well,” said Hayfield junior Grace Mindrup, who went 3-for-4 with a double. “We know we can hit and we know we can get runs back. Keeping a positive attitude is all we really need to worry about.”
Mindrup said the Vikings were glad to get revenge against a team that ended Hayfield’s season last year and now the squad is focused on taking the next step and getting to state. Hayfield can lose the first game to Fillmore Central Thursday and still have a chance at getting to state by winning the second game.
“We’re excited. We don’t really go under pressure a whole lot. We’ve just got to focus and play our game,” Mindrup said.
Chatfield 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 4 11 2
Hayfield 1 1 0 1 1 1 X — 5 8 3
Hayfield pitching: Jackie Sanvick (W) 7 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 K, 2 HBP
Hayfield hitting: Grace Mindrup, 3-for-4, double; Bhrett Zahnle, 1-for-4, double; Kyal Heydt, 0-for-1, BB, 3 BBs, R; Maggie Streightiff, 2-for-4, RBI; Olivia Matti, 1-for-2, R, BB; Alexis Dudycha, 0-for-2, RBI; Kate Kruger, 0-for-2, RBI; Lezlie Sorenson, 1-for-3, R; Sanvick, 1-for-2, double, RBI; Alyssa Soto, R