Packer softball team snaps six game skid at Elks Invite
Published 12:14 am Saturday, April 26, 2014
Austin’s Jesse Smith singles in the first inning against Esko in the first day of the Elks Softball Invitational at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers had just seen a three-run lead disappear, their pitcher was feeling pain and they had already snapped their six-game losing streak with an early win.
Austin shortstop Shayley Vesel looks to relay the throw after getting the force out on Esko’s Michaela Rossetti during the second inning of their game Friday night in the Elks Softball Invitational at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
But Austin senior pitcher Abbey Ball wasn’t satisfied.
Ball shook off the pain and any ideas of exiting the game as she recovered and led her team to an 8-6 win over Esko after the Packers opened the Elks Invite with a 10-0 win over Dover-Eyota in what was their home opener at Todd Park.
Ball struck out 10 in six innings in the opening win, but she had allowed eight hits and three walks early in the Esko game when Austin head coach Cindy Owen called a timeout to talk to her. Ball allowed just three hits and one run over the last three and two thirds innings of the game.
“My ribs were hurting pretty bad, but I wasn’t about to leave this game,” said Ball, who went 4-for-7 with a double and three RBIs on the day. “It was my win. I wasn’t going out.”
After the timeout Ball forced Esko’s Abby Saralampi to line out to Austin shortstop Shayley Vesel, who turned an inning ending double play and the Packers (2-6 overall) took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when Ball doubled in a run and Jordan Huntley grounded out for an RBI.
“Esko is a very good team and we played them very hard. The girls did a really nice job of staying focused and battling back,” Owen said. “If they have a little confidence, we can play with anybody. The teams that beat us are good teams, but we can play with them.”
Vesel also gave the Packers a boost with her bat as she went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in the win over Esko and she led a defense that had zero errors.
Austin pitcher Abbey Ball delivers in the first inning against Esko Friday night in the Elks Softball Invitational at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It feels good to play on this field again,” Vesel said. “We’re starting to talk a lot more out there on defense.”
Austin had lost its previous six games in a row headed into Friday, but it set the tone when it used a late rally to 10-run Dover-Eyota.
“We knew we had to start the tournament with a win,” Ball said. “The focus and the drive was there and that helped us in the second game. We kind of carried our high from game one into game two.”
Austin 10, Dover-Eyota 0
Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (W) 6 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 10 K, 1 HBP
Austin hitting: Sydney Murphy, 1-for-3, double, R, BB; Shayley Vesel, 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BBs, 2 R; Abbey Ball, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, R, BB; Jordan Huntley, 1-for-2, 2 R, BB; Jesse Smith, 1-for-2, RBI, R; Brooke Pazurek, 1-for-2, BB; Keisha Berg, 0-for-3, RBI, 2 R; McKenna Gleisner, 0-for-1, BB; Abby Bickler, 1-for-2, RBI, R
Esko 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 — 6 11 2
Austin 4 0 1 2 0 1 X — 8 10 0
Austin pitching: Ball (W), 7 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 6 ER, 7 K
Austin hitting: Murphy, 2-for-3, double, 3 R, BB; Vesel, 2-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Ball, 3-for-4, double, 2 RBIs; Huntley, 0-for-4, RBI, R; Smith, 1-for-3, 2 R, SB; Pazurek, 0-for-1, RBI; Bailee Brooks, 0-for-3; Erin Dankert, 1-for-3, RBI; Bickler, 1-for-3; Kelsey Sederquest, R
