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FHS earns softball title, extends win streak

SAFE AT HOME — Fairmont Cardinals runner Ericka Kim slides safely past Martin County West catcher Karlee Thiesse as Thiesse fields the throw to the plate during the championship game of the Martin County West softball invitational on Saturday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome. Fairmont’s Jordan Ehlert (back right), Martin County West coaches Darrell Ziegler and Jen Clow (back center), and home plate umpire Joel Erdman watch the action. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

WELCOME — Back-to-back shutouts.

The Fairmont Cardinals softball lineup extended their season-opening winning streak to three in a row by capturing the Martin County West Invitational crown on Saturday.

Sophomore ace right-hander Jordan Ehlert fired a two-hit complete-game shutout to power Fairmont to a 5-0 opening-round victory over the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

Ehlert then hurled a four-hit complete-game gem to engineer the Cardinals’ 4-0 triumph over the host Martin County West Mavericks in the tournament championship clash.

“Jo (Ehlert) knows she has a strong defense behind her, so she doesn’t have to depend on strikeouts as much as some teams,” said Fairmont head coach Haley Loerts.

“I think our intelligent baserunning is what saved us during both games today. We were able to capitalize on the other teams’ mistakes to score runs without always getting that key hit,” Loerts added.

The Cardinals did exactly that against the host Mavericks in grabbing a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning in the invite finale.

Mariah Gochanour drew a one-out walk before advancing all the way to the plate when Jaiden Leiding’s slap grounder was thrown away at first base and rolled into foul territory in right field.

Taylor Nuss then jolted a one-out offering for a double to set the table for the Cardinals’ two-run outburst during the third. Nuss wheeled to third base on Ericka Kim’s bunt hit before crossing the plate on Mallory Gocha-nour’s safety-squeeze bunt.

Kim, who advanced to second base on Gochanour’s sacrifice, stayed put on a walk to Courtney Williams before sprinting home on Mariah Gochanour’s evasive infield hit just past the pitcher’s circle.

Ahead 3-0, the Cardinals’ defense turned the Mavericks away empty-handed despite a bases-load situation with one out in the bottom of the third.

Sydnee Hein lined a leadoff single to center to trigger MCW’s at-bat before wheeling to second base on Eivey Kuehl’s bunt. Madison Klima drew a walk and Alyssa Williamson reached on an error to jam the base paths.

Ehlert got the next Maverick batter to pop out in foul territory to catcher Mariah Gochanour before shortstop Taylor Nuss thwarted the threat by gloving a hot shot off Sierra Williamson’s bat for the third out.

MCW starting pitcher Jordan Stahl then retired 9 of the next 10 Fairmont batters over three shutout innings to keep the game at 3-0.

Stahl singled with one out in the Mavericks’ fourth at-bat, but was stranded. Sierra Williamson, who drew a one-out walk in the sixth, also was left on base.

Fairmont loaded the bases in the top of the seventh when Taylor Crissinger singled, Sydnea Brinkman walked and Kim legged out a bunt hit. Crissinger crossed the plate on Mallory Gochanour’s RBI single to center before Stahl worked out of the bases-loaded jam with the last of her game-high 12 strikeouts and a fielder’s choice.

Karlee Thiesse and Klima each legged out infield hits during the Mavericks’ final at-bat only to be stranded as Ehlert recorded her sixth strikeout to preserve her shutout.

Ehlert allowed four hits and issued two walks in seven innings pitched to earn the complete-game victory. Stahl gave up four runs — three earned — on seven hits, and issued three walks to go with her dozen strikeouts in seven frames to absorb the loss.

Kim topped all players with three hits on the game.

Fairmont (3-0) plays host to Luverne at 5:30 p.m. today at Cardinal Park in Fairmont, while Martin County West (3-1) is idle until facing Martin Luther/ Granada-Huntley-East Chain on Tuesday, April 18, in Northrop.

FHS 012 000 1 — 4 7 1

MCW 000 000 0 — 0 4 2

Jordan Ehlert (WP) and Mariah Gochanour. Jordan Stahl (LP) and Karlee Thiesse.

LOB–Fairmont 7, Martin Co. West 7. 2B–Taylor Nuss (F). SAC–Mallory Gochanour (F), Eivey Kuehl (MCW).

Fairmont 5, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 0 — Ehlert recorded six strikeouts and issued two walks in tossing a two-hit complete-game shutout, while Mallory Gochanour produced a game-best three RBIs to pace the Cardinals’ first-round win over the Panthers on Saturday in Welcome.

Mallory Gochanour delivered a first-inning sacrifice fly, and singled home two teammates during Fairmont’s three-run second at-bat. Mariah Gochanour, who went 2-for-2, produced another Cardinals’ RBI via a second-inning single, while Jaiden Leiding bunted home a run in the sixth.

Taylor Nuss drew four walks and scored two runs for Fairmont, Ericka Kim singled and scored once, Courtney Williams singled, while Taylor Crissinger went 2-for-3.

Martin County West 5, Luverne 4 — Karlee Thiesse delivered the game-winning two-run double with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the Mavericks to a one-run victory over the Cardinals during first-round tourney action Saturday.

Trailing 4-3, Sierra Williamson lined a leadoff single to trigger MCW’s last at-bat before Mercedes Moeller and Jordan Stahl reached on bunt hits to load the bases. Thiesse then hammered a double that plated pinch runner Savannah Longton and Moeller with the tying and winning runs.

Alyssa Williamson singled, doubled and scored a run for the Mavericks, while Stahl tripled and singled to produce one RBI. Jenna Steele produced an RBI double, while Moeller also drew two walks.

Stahl, who gave up one run on one hit in one inning of relief, received the win. Stahl struck out three and walked one in the seventh.

Sierra Williamson allowed three runs on three hits, fanned nine and issued four walks in six-plus innings to receive no decision.

Fairmont defeated New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva, 19-0 in four innings, and downed Luverne by a 12-2, five-inning decision to capture the junior varsity championship on Saturday in Welcome.

Kaitlyn Freese and Kasi Lopez combined on hurling the opening-game shutout for the Cardinals. Freese struck out six and did not issue walk in three one-hit innings, while Lopez fanned two in one frame of relief.

Cambrie Anderson smacked a triple to top Fairmont’s Game 1 offense.

Lopez and Jen Moeller combined to pitch Fairmont to its second tourney win on Saturday. Lopez allowed one hit, struck out 10 and walked four in four frames to earn the win. Moeller notched three strikeouts and one walk in one inning of relief.

Ana Krause went 3-for-4 to top the Cardinals’ offense, while Sydney Hainy went 2-for-3 with a double.

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