Packers survive a scare to take down KoMets
Published 8:35 pm Friday, April 25, 2025
Austin’s Adi Cline makes the throw from right field. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Katelynn Klouse looks to make a relay throw in the Packer Dome Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin first baseman Jenna Hetzel controls the ball. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Charlee Cunningham pulls in a throw at first base. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin relief pitcher Quinn Osgood, left, celebrates with catcher Lexi Helgeson after the Packers beat Kasson-Mantorville 10-9 in the PackerDome Friday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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Austin sophomore Quinn Osgood hadn’t thrown a pitch in about a year, but after a series of tough breaks for the Packer softball team, Osgood was right in the middle of a pickle.
With Austin clinging to a one-run lead and Kasson-Mantorville having runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh, Osgood closed the door and Austin held on to win 10-9 in the Packer Dome Friday.
Osgood entered the game after Austin pitcher KJ Schaefer left the game after being hit in the shin during a seven-run sixth inning by the KoMets (4-5 overall). Osgood stopped the rally by forcing a one-out pop out, and then KM had a runner leave early on a lead off from third base for the final out of the frame. Osgood allowed just one base runner in the seventh.
“It was kind of crazy to go in with all of that pressure and it’s kind of difficult,” said Osgood, who also had three RBIs at the plate. “But I’ve gotten used to it over the years. I did what I had to do.”
Austin (6-5 overall) took a 10-2 lead into the sixth and the Packers built up their lead with a rally in the bottom of the third. With two outs in the third, Charlee Cunningham advanced to first on a wild pitch, and she stole two bases before scoring on an errant throw to get things started. Osgood doubled in a run and Morgan Cass singled in a run to put the Packers up 7-2.
Austin senior Katelynn Klouse later added a clutch RBI single to give the team a cushion. Klouse said Austin’s team has grown and matured together this season.
“We have a strong team bond and we all want the best for each other,” Klouse said. “We have a want to be here and we’re all happy to be where we are. Coming into (games), we don’t expect to win. We just go out there and put our best out there and if our best is good enough, we get the win.”
Austin head coach Lisa Lage said it was a tough decision to move Schaefer to right field, where she caught a fly ball in the seventh, but she had to think about the big picture.
“No one wants to pull their pitcher out, but after (KJ) took a line shot like that to her ankle, you also have to think long term, and we have three games next week,” Lage said. “It was very nerve racking, but the great thing about this young team is that they’re so flexible. We were able to shift everyone to different positions without having to sub. Everyone did their job and I’m so proud of them.”
The Packers gained a lot of steam against some tough competition this week. After losing to Rochester Century 1-0 on Tuesday, the Packers edged out Rochester Mayo 7-6 before their win on Friday. The Packers now have the most wins in a season since the 2018 season, when the team finished 13-10 overall.
“This week was a huge growing week for us,” Lage said. “Last year Century 10-runned us, but after the game the girls said we can play with these teams. Wednesday we really worked on our hitting, and their drive, their maturity and their belief in themselves is key. It feels like that was the last piece that we’ve been waiting on.”
Osgood said the key to the Packers’ success has been their belief in each other.
“When you’re doing really good, you want your friend to do really good and that makes the whole team do really good. It builds up a strong team connection,” she said. “We all want the best for each other and we haven’t had a season like this in forever.”
KM 2 0 0 0 0 7 0 – 9 18 3
Austin 3 1 3 2 1 0 X – 10 15 4
Austin pitching: KJ Schaefer (W) 5 ⅓ IP, 17 H, 3 BB, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 K; Quinn Osgood (S) 1 ⅔ IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 1 K
Austin hitting: Charlee Cunningham, 1-for-3, 3 R, double, RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB; Katelynn Klouse, 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, BB; Quinn Osgood, 3-for-5 double, 2 R, 3 RBIs; Morgan Cass, 3-for-4, RBI, R; Schaefer, 0-for-2, 2 BBs; Jenna Hetzel, 4-for-4, RBI, R; Lexi Brede, 1-for-3, triple, RBI, R, BB; Adi Cline, 0-for-3, RBI, BB; Lexi Helgeson, double; Lexi Brede, 1-for-4, triple, R
