Thursday, October 8, 2009

Jefferson Hangs Eight in Fourth on NEN in Districts

Northeast Nodaway ended its season with a 13-0 loss to Jefferson in districts. The ending was a disappointing one for the Bluejays, who had greatly improved over last year. Coach Rex Wallace, in looking back over the season, said that the team's biggest weakness was its outfield. "We can't let balls go through our legs like we did tonight," he said. "It must have been frustrating for [pitcher] Taylor [Dougan] to pitch well and to watch that. But overall, we were a lot better than last year." Blair Schmitz was named to the all-conference team as a first baseman; second baseman Hallie Oelze, who played her last game as a Bluejay Wednesday night, was named Honorable Mention.

Northeast did not get a hit against Eagle pitcher Kendle Schieber in the five-inning loss; the closest they came was in the top of the first when Blair Schmitz hit a hard shot that was just foul down the left field line before striking out. After Schieber struck out the side in the top of the first, she walked to lead off the first. Coach Rex Wallace then went to an unorthodox defense, moving Katrina Freemeyer from left field to a spot behind second, moved Oelze way in, and put Schmitz in as close as Dougan on the mound. But that move backfired as Allie Meyer slapped the ball past short and third into the vacated left field area for a triple. Jill Henry then hit a single to center to score Meyer and then went to second as centerfielder Mallorie Peters let the ball roll under her legs. Ashley Chor hit a fly ball down the left field line that looked like trouble, but Katrina Freemeyer made a running catch for the first out, but Darcy Schieber hit a single up the middle to score Chor to make it 3-0. Dougan struck out Sarah Kamper and Jackie Bliley to get out of the inning.

The Bluejays got their only baserunners in the second inning. With one out, Katrina Freemeyer had two strikes on her but laid down a perfect bunt that died in front of the plate. Catcher Jill Henry threw away the ball for an error. Taylor Dougan struck out, but Mallorie Peters walked to put runners on first and second. But Freemeyer was out stealing third to end Northeast's most promising threat of the night.

Jefferson added two more in the top of the second as Kendle Schieber hit a double just over the outstretched glove of Freemeyer and Meyer got her second slap hit, a slow roller that rolled dead halfway between home plate and third base in fair territory. After Meyer stole second, Jill Henry grounded out to score Schieber and Chor stretched a single into a double on the next play as Meyer scored.

The two teams went in order in the fourth, but Dougan began fighting the strike zone in the fifth. Gina Schieber hit a pop fly single down the left field line. Kendle popped out to Bryant at short, but Dougan walked Allie Meyer. After Jill Henry singled sharply between short and third, Chor walked on four pitches to force in a run. The backbreaker for Northeast was Darcy Schieber's single past a drawn-in infield that scored three runs when Freemeyer let the ball roll under her legs. Darcy Schieber went to third on a wild pitch, Sarah Kemper walked and stole second, Jamie Degase singled to left and stole, Jackie Bliley walked, Gina Schieber reached on an error by Kristan Judd when she dropped a throw on a force play and it rolled away, and Kendle Schieber singled in two more. Freemeyer threw out Gina Schieber at third and Dougan struck out Meyer on a change to finally end the carnage.

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