Softball teams go head-to-head again

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 27, 2003

The Southland softball team was battered 12-1 by Wabasha-Kellogg in the first round of the Section 1A tournament, but rebounded behind the pitching of Michelle Landherr to eliminate Houston 4-2 and earn a rematch with Blooming Prairie.

"They came to hit today," Southland head coach Karleen Retterath said of a W-K team that went on to rip BPHS 8-0.

The Rebels fared better against Houston, as Michelle Landherr limited the Hurricanes to just four hits while striking out seven.

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"She's really matured through the year," Retterath said of her freshman hurler. "She's out there having fun and getting it done on the mound."

Amy Walerak put together a 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored to pace the Southland offense.

"She's had a strong tournament for us, her bat's helped us out a lot," Retterath said of Walerak.

Shannon Halbach finished 2-for-4.

Southland faces Blooming Prairie, whom they defeated 6-3 in sub-section play last week. Game time is 5 p.m. at Todd Park, with the winner moving on to face Wabasha-Kellogg at 7 p.m.

The Blooming Prairie softball team won its first game in Section 1A play Saturday, defeating Houston 2-0, but the Blossoms were routed by a hot-hitting Wabasha-Kellogg team 8-0, setting up a must-win rematch with Southland to keep their season alive.

Emily Wencl shut down Houston in the first round, firing a three-hit shutout to go with eight strikeouts and no walks.

The Blossoms got their two runs in the fifth. With runners on second and third, Rachel Long hit to the Hurricane shortstop who threw wildly to first, allowing Andrea Miller to follow Angela Noble across the plate.

Miller finished the day 2-for-3 to lead the BP hitters.

The second game was a different story, although it almost wasn't as lopsided as the final score wold indicate. W-K held a 1-0 lead in the fourth with the bases loaded, but two outs and an 0-2 count. After a very close pitch was called a ball, Wencl ended up walking the batter to make it 2-0. The Falcons would go on to score a total of six runs in the inning, three of which came on a bases-clearing double.

Wabasha-Kellogg added another run in the fifth off Wencl, who pitched all seven innings, surrendering six earned runs on five hits and an uncharacteristic five walks.

BP will face Southland today at 5 p.m. at Todd Park, with the winner getting another shot at Wabasha-Kellogg at 7 p.m.