Mavericks trample Eagles in 3AA softball clash
WELCOME — The energy was high in the Martin County West Maverick softball team’s dugout on Wednesday, and it seemed to be just what the home team needed. The No. 2-seeded Mavericks returned to Fox Lake Sports Complex and shut out the No. 3-seeded Windom Eagles 12-0 in five innings during second-round Section 3AA action.
Windom beat St. James, 8-2, in the rescheduled first-round game before playing Martin County West on Wednesday. The Eagles (13-8) play Montevideo in the consolation bracket at 11 a.m. Saturday in Marshall.
Martin County West (14-6) advances to the third round of the winner’s bracket for a 12:30 p.m. game against Morris Area/ Alberta-Chokio on Saturday in Marshall.
“We played (Morris Area/Alberta-Chokio) last year, so we know a little bit about them,” MCW head coach Darrell Ziegler said.
The Mavericks scored a run in each of the two first innings before stringing together eight runs in the third.
“We hit the ball a lot harder today than we did yesterday (Tuesday),” Ziegler said. “Some errors that they (Windom) made were balls that were hit very hard and they didn’t have a whole lot of a chance. I think that was the difference in the game today.”
Eagles pitcher Halle Jackson walked Alyssa Williamson to start the bottom of the first inning. Alyssa Williamson advanced on Jenna Steele’s fly ball, took another base on Sierra Williamson’s single and scored on Karlee Thiesse’s fielder’s choice.
In the second inning, Madison Klima got a hit and swiped another base on an errant throw to first. Klima took advantage of another error during Sydnee Hein’s at-bat to score the Mavericks’ second run.
MCW then increased its lead by 10 in the third. Sierra Williamson lined a hit to left to start the effort. Thiesse perfectly laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first. Mercedes Moeller loaded the bases via a walk, and Klima recorded a two-run single, bringing in Sierra Williamson and Thiesse.
With only one out, Jackson walked Eivey Kuehl to reload the bags. Hein singled, allowing Savannah Longton, Moeller’s courtesy runner, and Klima to score. Hein was able to get to second when the Eagles tried to get the out at home.
Kuehl gave Alyssa Williamson an RBI groundout for the team’s fifth run of the frame, and Hein made it an 8-0 game thanks to Steele’s RBI single.
Thiesse tallied two RBIs on her hit as Steele and Sierra Williamson, who hit a double in her second at-bat of the inning, produced the seventh and eighth runs.
The Mavericks kept its scoring alive as Jordan Stahl doubled to center and courtesy runner Hannah Olson chipped in run No. 11 on Klima’s sacrifice fly.
Kuehl, who singled, advanced on Hein’s groundout and moved two more bases on wild pitches to give the Mavericks their final run.
The Eagles tried to get runs on the scoreboard to eliminate the chance of a 10-run rule game in the fifth. Daytona Smedsrud and Faith Willard got two-out hits, and Stahl hit Shelby Erickson to load the bases when Ziegler and the Mavericks’ infield met on the mound.
Right after, Stahl scooped up Mackenzie Hockel’s grounder and threw to Sierra Williamson at first to record the final out.
“When I went out to the mound, we just talked about playing as a team and not trying to do too much by yourself,” Ziegler said. “We did a very nice job out in the field all day long and that was very important.”
Stahl gave up four hits, walked one, struck out one and hit one to earn the complete-game shutout.
Klima went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Sierra Williamson went 3-for-3, including a double, and scored twice.
“She (Sierra) has struggled a little bit lately, but we’ve been working on some of her mechanics. She hit the ball very sharply, which was good to see,” Ziegler said. “We’re going to need her to continue that for us.”
Willard, Smedsrud, Jackson and Maurissa Isaacs each got a hit for the Eagles.
WIN 000 00– 0 4 3
MCW 118 2x–12 11 0
Jordan Stahl (WP) and Mercedes Moeller. Halle Jackson (LP) and Maurissa Isaacs.
LOB–Windom 5, Martin County West 3. 2B–Sierra Williamson (MCW), Jordan Stahl (MCW). SF–Madison Klima (MCW).
Section 2A Playoffs
Cleveland 11, Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain 1 (five innings) — The No. 5-seeded Clippers held the No. 12-seeded Jaguars to one run in opening-round section action on Wednesday in Cleveland.
Marissa Steinhaus went 2-for-3 and scored the lone run for the Jaguars, which close with a 4-16 record.
Cleveland (13-7) plays Nicollet at 5 p.m. today.
Lydia Steinhaus earned the RBI, while Alex Schuder hit a double. Sadee Ziemer and Lizzie Oothoudt added a hit each for the Jaguars.
Zoie Weller went 2-for-3 to top Cleveland.
McKenna Robb allowed one run on four hits and totaled five strikeouts in four innings to get the win. Emma Hahn held the Jaguars to two hits and walked one in the fifth and final inning.
Marissa Steinhaus gave up 11 unearned runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out four in the loss.
MLG 000 10– 1 6 8
CLE 315 2x–11 7 1
Marissa Steinhaus (LP) and Michaelah Petrowiak. McKenna Robb (WP), Emma Hahn (5) and Lexi Hollerich.
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