After dropping three straight, the Packers got back on the winning track with a couple of old reliables: power – from first baseman Brooke Gentzler – and strong throws from their outfielders.

Friday, April 28, 2000

After dropping three straight, the Packers got back on the winning track with a couple of old reliables: power – from first baseman Brooke Gentzler – and strong throws from their outfielders.

The result was a 12-2 six-inning win over Rochester John Marshall (3-5, 1-4 in the Big Nine)

Gentzler smacked a home run in the bottom of the first inning that soared over the left field fence to cut an opening 2-0 deficit in half. That set the stage for a 10-run second inning for the Packers.

"It was the first pitch she threw for a strike," Gentzler said about her home run, "she threw it right up the middle."

"That was probably the best swing I have ever seen Brooke take in a game," Austin coach Todd Waterbury said.

Austin freshman pitcher Amy Kelly was hit almost as hard in the top of the first. JM’s junior pitcher, Katie Arthur, led off the game with a hard shot to left field. She wound up at second base and moved to third on a dropped foul ball. An infield single left runners on the corners with one out. A ground out led to one run and a single to center a second. Jenny Skinner tried to stretch that RBI-hit into a double, but centerfielder Sara Turvey threw a strike to second to get the final out of the inning.

Kelly pitched magnificently after that, allowing just two hits while striking out five the rest of the way.

"She wasn’t finding her spots in the first inning," Waterbury said, "but she did after that."

Sixteen Packers went to the plate in the Austin second. Highlights included a two-strike slap hit over the first baseman by Turvey with the bases loaded to score the first run of the inning and a two-run RBI single off the bat of Gentzler.

Megan Olsen capped off the game with the team’s third big smash to left field. Her double ended the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when it scored Jamie Nieland for a 10-run lead.

"Megan was a little mad that it wasn’t over the fence," Waterbury said, "but it was a little breezy then."

The coach joked with his player after the game that she needed to hit the weight room.

In the field, Nieland made two highlight reel plays. In the third, it was her forte, turning a safe hit into a 9-3 punch out.

"I love that play," first baseman Gentzler said. "Jamie has an awesome arm. I had to stretch to my limit there."

In the fourth, the right fielder made a nice catch of a wicked line drive.

"They have got some kids who can play," John Marshall coach Terry Heiderscheidt said. "They are impressive, a very good club."

He singled out for praise Nieland.

Today is the start of the eight-team Austin Elks Tournament which continues Saturday morning at Todd Park.

The first games of the evening start at 6 p.m.

Austin (4-3, 4-3) faces Champlin Park in the quarterfinals.

Semifinal action is at 8 p.m. Saturday’s final round begins at 10:30 a.m.