Softball: Kruger powers Vikings past JWP
Published 8:55 pm Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Hayfield’s Kate Kruger smiles as she trots home after her three-run homerun against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton in their Section 1A West tournament game. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
HAYFIELD —The top-seeded Hayfield softball team put together a monster third inning as it beat No. 4 seed Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 11-1 in five innings in the Section 1A West semifinals Wednesday.
The Vikings (15-7 overall) sent 13 hitters to the plate in the third and sophomore Kate Kruger, who had four RBIs, put the exclamation point on the frame when she blasted a three-run homer to center field to put her team up 8-0.
“You get that pitch and you can just feel it come off the bat,” Kruger said. “It’s solid.”
Hayfield catcher Grace Mindrup heads down the line after fielding a short grounder against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton in the Section 1A West playoffs in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Vikings added two more runs in the third as Grace Mindrup singled in a run and they were able to get some reserves in the game in the fifth. Hayfield senior Jackie Sanvick pitched four shutout innings as she continues to work her way from a back injury that kept her out of the lineup for portion of the regular season.
“I still feel a little bit of pain,” Sanvick said. “Sometimes it hurts a lot, but my back brace helps up a lot and it feels like I’m getting back to where I used to be last year. It feels good to be back.”
The Vikings still have much of their lineup from last year’s state qualifying team and they’ve started the playoffs off on a strong note, by outscoring their first two opponents 33-4 in 10 total innings.
“Right now they’re hitting well and this is the time we want them to hit well,” Hayfield head coach Jana Wagner said.
Hayfield will take on No. 2 seeded Faribault Bethlehem Academy in the Section 1A West title game at 3 p.m. Friday at Todd Park. The Vikings beat FBA 6-2 May 3.
“We’re pretty excited. We know we have to come ready to play if we want to beat them,” Sanvick said.
JWP 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 3 1
Hayfield’s Olivia Matti looks a pitch in during the Vikings’ Section 1A West playoff game against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Wednesday night in Hayfield. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield 0 2 8 1 X — 11 8 1
Hayfield pitching: Jackie Sanvick (W) 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 K; Jacie Gustine, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 HBP
Hayfield hitting: Carrie Rutledge, 0-for-2, R, 2 SB, BB; Alexis Dudycha, 1-for-2, R, BB; Grace Mindrup, 1-for-2, RBI, BB; Maggie Streightiff, 2-for-3, RBI; Olivia Matti, 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, BB; Kelly Johnson, 1-for-3, 2 R; Kate Kruger, 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs, R; Jackie Sanvick, 0-for-1 BB; Nikki Cortez, 0-for-1, R, SB, BB; Jenna Jacobsen, R; Brooke Zahnle, R; Elecia Brown, SB, R; Jacie Gustine, RBI