STEWARTVILLE-Put it this way, the softball diamonds at City Park in Stewartville make for good Little League baseball fields.

Wednesday, May 31, 2000

STEWARTVILLE-Put it this way, the softball diamonds at City Park in Stewartville make for good Little League baseball fields.

As fastpitch softball fields, well, they’re a little off.

Not until after Lyle/Pacelli’s 6-1 Section 1A elimination-game victory over Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander did officials figure out that the mound was 38 feet from home plate – making it 2 feet short of official.

But it didn’t bother L/P starter Melissa Ehret, who, though she didn’t strike out a batter, scattered seven hits and induced harmless infield pop flys one after another in a game she controlled from the start.

"She had a lot of spin on the ball tonight," L/P coach Tom Clements said, "and she hit her spots."

A strong wind convinced Ehret and Clements to forgo pitching anything up in the zone, anything that GMLO batters might be able to drive.

Instead, the pitcher and coach decided to stay low.

The plan worked and second baseman Kari Leif benefitted from it, for it produced a busy day for the junior. Leif caught six putouts, threw out two baserunners, and had a hand in every out in the final inning.

"I watch the pitch that coach calls," Leif said. "There’s a low-and-outside pitch that’s almost certain to come to me.

"Every time I see that I’m all excited and ready for the ball."

Leif also added RBI singles in the first and fourth innings, sparking the L/P offense that took advantage of seven walks from three GMLO pitchers. Three of those walks turned into runs.

It took two pitching changes for GMLO to settle down.

"It’s been like that all year," said GMLO coach Bill Benkstein. "We’ve got three girls who can throw and we go with the one who is hot. It just took us awhile to find one today."

Lindsay Mensink came on in the third and put an end to a three-run L/P rally. She allowed one run the rest of the way, but by then it was too late.

L/P’s 5-0 early lead held up easily with Ehret on the mound.

"When our offense is clicking," she said, "it’s awesome. It takes the pressure off of me."

L/P now faces Dover-Eyota in an elimination game at 4 p.m. today. The winner of that game faces Houston, unbeaten in the tournament, at 6 p.m. today.

Clements isn’t worried that his 18-7 L/P ballclub owns a loss.

"You’ve got to beat everybody here anyway," he said.

And you’ve got to beat them anyhow – with 38 feet between the pitcher’s mound and home plate or 40.

Section 1A Tournament in Stewartville

Saturday

First Round

Game 1: Dover-Eyota 5, Lyle/Pacelli 2

Game 2: Houston 5, LeRoy-Ostrander/Grand Meadow 2

Tuesday

Game 3: Lyle/Pacelli 6, LeRoy-Ostrander/Grand Meadow 1

Game 4: Houston 3, Dover-Eyota 1

Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Game 5: L/P vs. Dover-Eyota

Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Houston vs. Winner of Game 5 (to win Section 1A title, winner of Game 5 needs to beat Houston twice. If necessary, second game with Houston would be Thursday at 5 p.m.)

Benkstein calls it a career

Stand-up guy and GMLO coach Bill Benkstein coached the last game of his eight-year career on Tuesday.

GMLO’s loss had Benkstein and his players huddled in a corner of City Park, sharing memories and a few tears.

"This is it," said Benkstein, who in his eight years as softball coach had only one losing season.

"That was in the first year," he said, "when we didn’t believe quite yet."

Benkstein cited his daughter’s career as the reason he’s ending his own.

Melissa Benkstein, the ace of GMLO’s best teams, is now the ace at the University of Minnesota, Mankato.

She just finished her junior season.

"I only saw two of her games this year," he said, "and that’s not enough.

"I want to see more of her."