BP softball team opens playoffs with a strong effort
Published 10:51 pm Thursday, May 14, 2009
Blooming Prairie looked lived up to it’s No. 1 seed billing in a five inning 12-0 win over No. 9 Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the opening round of the West Subsection 1A softball tournament in Todd Park Thursday.
The Awesome Blossoms (16-4 overall) had a dominant performance from pitcher Erica Manske as she allowed just two hits, one walk, and struck out eight and B.A. (4-15 overall) never put a runner in scoring position.
“I just looked to throw it in different spots. I threw a lot of high balls, because they were swinging at them,” said Manske, a sophomore. “It helps a lot to be ahead. If you get behind right away it’s tough to come back.”
While Manske was getting it done on the mound, the Blossoms used a little small ball to take over.
After leaving the bases loaded with just one run in the first inning, BP started the second with back-to-back bunt singles by Manske and Jordan Noble. Tricia DeBoer reached on an error, Anna Peterson walked to score a run and Katelin Strand ripped a two-out, two-run triple down the left field run to score two and make it 5-0 BP.
“That hit was huge. It gave us a little cushion and we could just play our game without any problems,” said BP shortstop Resha Koster.
Besides getting four infield singles, BP also stole four bases in the win.
“We’ve been working really hard on baserunning,” BP head coach Alison Mach said. “We’ve been focusing on knowing where the ball’s at and taking those bases. That’s the key to winning these games.”
Koster finished with two singles and two RBIs, but she took a patient approach in her first two plate appearances as drew two walks, with runners on base both times.
“It was tough to take those early walks. But for me, I like quicker pitchers and struggle against slower pitchers,” she said. “Those two walks kind of got me mentally ready to hit later.”
BP handled the expectations of a top-seed well as they scored seven runs in the last two innings to put away the Cardinals.
“Everything went pretty well today,” Mach said. “It was our first game, so there were a lot of nerves, but we played a pretty solid game. Our goal is to get a little bit better every game and play as few games as possible.”
BP will take on No. 4 seeded Hayfield (6-14 overall) Saturday at 10 a.m. at Todd Park in the second round. The Vikings beat Alden/Conger 11-0 in the opening round.
“They’re a solid team and they’ve improved a lot since the season started. We’ll be all right if we play solid and I think it’s gonna be a battle,” Mach said.
1 2 3 4 5 R H E
BA 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
BP 1 4 0 3 4 12 10 0
BP pitching: Erica Manske (W), 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 8 K
BP hitting: Tricia DeBoer, 2-for-3, 4 R, 2 SB, BB; Anna Peterson, 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB, SB; Resha Koster, 2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 R, 2 BBs; Kelly Peterson, 0-for-2, RBI, BB; Katelin Strand, 1-for-3, triple, 3 RBIs; Tayla Jones, 0-for-2; Mag Fogarty, 1-for-3, SB, R; Manske, 1-for-2; Jordan Noble, 1-for-1, RBI, R; Sam Johnson, BB, R
BA pitching: Payton Brown (L), 1 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 ER, 3 K
BA hitting: Nikki Viscomi, 0-for-2; Jena Budde, 1-for-2; Laura Jeanes, 0-for-2; Regan Kriechbaum, 0-for-2; Kim Stadler, 0-for-2; Tricia Ashley, 1-for-2; Mary Anne Deschamp, 0-for-2;