Tuesday, September 19, 2017

NEN Softball Downs Pattonsburg at North Andrew

Northeast Nodaway fell to North Nodaway 11-3 to start the North Andrew Tournament Wednesday. But to their credit, they came back and got a 9-5 victory over Pattonsburg before falling to Benton JV in the consolation finals 10-1.

It looked like Northeast would face an early exit at the tournament, despite having beaten Pattonsburg earlier in the year handily. In the top of the first, Katie Warford walked; Kirsten Slessman popped out to catcher Blair Stoll, but Warford advanced to second on the play. She stole third and came home on a passed ball and Pattonsburg was up 1-0.

Northeast got the run back in the bottom of the inning as Anne Schieber reached on a dropped throw. Paige West popped out and Makayla Adwell struck out, but Taylor Coffelt reached third when right fielder Angelina Anderson dropped a fly ball and Schieber scored to tie it at 1.

All hell threatened to break loose in the second when #8 hitter Anderson was hit by a pitch and #9 hitter Brittani Adams walked. Katie Warford successfully reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out and Kirsten Slessman singled home one. Shaila Cramer flied out to score Adams. Warford stole third and came home on catcher Blair Stoll’s throwing error, while Grace Warner’s single put Pattonsburg up 5-1.

It looked like it would be a short afternoon, but then Emily Redden doubled to lead off Northeast’s half of the second and Blair Stoll’s double brought her home. Jana Walker walked and stole second. Angela Standiford struck out, but Anne Schieber’s pop fly dropped just in front of center to score another to make it 5-3.

Paige West reached on a dropped throw, Walker scored on the play, and West went to second on the throw, putting her at second and Schieber at third. Makayla Adwell, normally a swinger, put down a perfect bunt. Pattonsburg got Schieber trapped between third and home but threw the ball away and two runs came home. Maggie Schmitz reached on a dropped fly to score Adwell, while Emily Redden’s second double of the inning scored Schmitz to flip the script and put Northeast up 8-5.

Northeast got out of a jam in the fourth as Pattonsburg loaded the bases with one out. But Brynn Teel struck out and Autumn Fredricks grounded into a tag play at second; NEN second baseman Cassy Redden tagged out Makelle Hobson before a run could cross, keeping the score at 8-5. Northeast got an insurance run in their half of the fourth when Makayla Adwell scored on a wild pitch.

Northeast was outplayed and outclassed by Benton JV in the consolation final. They committed two errors, walked three batters, and uncorked two wild pitches in the first as they gave up four in that inning. They gave up three more in the second thanks to two errors and three more wild pitches. Angela Standiford showed why she has been earning playing time in the field as her running catch prevented even more runs from scoring.

NEN got their lone tally in the third when Standiford was thrown out stealing on a first and third situation, but Jana Walker came home on the play.

Benton JV scored one tally in each of the third, fourth, and fifth. In each inning, Northeast prevented even more damage as they made several catches in the field. Shortstop Paige West and third baseman Taylor Coffelt made catches in the field in the third. In the fourth, Taylor Coffelt made a shoestring catch, while pitcher Blair Stoll caught a screamer that might have went for extra bases. Center fielder Maggie Schmitz threw out Lexie Peterson trying to stretch a single into a double in the fifth. In the sixth, Maggie Schmitz doubled to the wall in center, but Northeast couldn’t get her home against the stingy Cardinal defense.

No comments: