Blossoms capture 4th straight subsection title
Published 7:27 pm Friday, May 24, 2013
Blooming Prairie’s Megan O’Connor looks up after scoring the game’s only run in the second inning en route to a 1-0 win over Kenyon-Wanamingo in the Section 1A West Division championship Friday evening at Todd Park. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Awesome Blossoms didn’t have much hitting, but their defense and pitching carried them to their second straight Section 1A West Division softball title in Todd Park Friday.
BP senior Shelbi Swenson struck out 14 and she never allowed a runner past second base as the Blossoms beat Kenyon-Wanamingo (12-8 overall) 1-0.
Blooming Prairie’s Sam Ivers swings through her single in the sixth inning Friday night in the Section 1A West Division championship.
The Blossoms (17-3 overall) got on the board in the second inning when Swenson walked to start the inning and pinch runner Megan O’Connor ended up scoring on a slap-bunt by Madison Worke.
“It was nice to get that one run,” Swenson said. “That gave me a little cushion and Jenna (Krell) made some big plays on defense. I think we’re playing our best ball right now and that’s important.”
Krell got the Blossoms out of two jams with her glove. In the sixth inning, KW had runners on first and second when Krell reached out to haul in a line drive and she threw to first to get the double play. In the seventh, Krell made a diving stop to get an out on a grounder to start the frame.
“Those plays were a lot of adrenaline. They just kind of happened,” Krell said. “(When Shelbi’s pitching) I make sure I move after every pitch because Shelbi does a great job, but you always have to be ready.”
Blooming Prairie’s Madison Worke lays down a bunt against Kenyon-Wanamingo in the second inning of the Section 1A West Division championship Friday evening at Todd Park.
KW pitcher Kailee Berquam allowed just five hits to BP. The Blossoms had the bases loaded with one out in fourth, but Berquam retired two straight hitters to avoid the jam.
“We weren’t expecting her speed,” Krell said. “Her wind up was a little slower and that speed kind of took you off guard. As the game went on we started to adjust.”
The Blossoms will play Lewiston-Altura (8-13 overall) in the Section 1A semifinals Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Todd Park.
KW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 3 0
BP 0 1 0 0 0 0 X — 1 5 0
BP pitching: Shelbi Swenson (W), 7 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 14 K
BP hitting: Tessa Ivers, 0-for-2, BB; Jenna Krell, 1-for-3; Sydney Heiber, 0-for-3; Swenson, 0-for-1, 2 BBs; Sam Ivers, 1-for-2, BB; Madison Worke, 0-for-2, RBI; Bria Baldwin, 2-for-3; Ashley Krohnberg, 0-for-3; Mariah Holland, 0-for-1; Elly Strunk, 0-for-1; Megan O’Connor, R
Blooming Prairie’s Shelbi Swenson delivers in the first inning against Kenyon-Wanamingo during the Section 1A West Division championship Friday night at Todd Park.