Softball: Blossoms are one win from state
Published 8:51 pm Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Blooming Prairie's Kelsey Kubista starts home as the ball is delivered home in the second inning against Lewiston-Altura during the first round of the Section 1A Tournament at Todd Park. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Blooming Prairie pitcher Shelbi Swenson did not back down in the face of adversity and the Awesome Blossoms are now one win from their third straight trip to the Class ‘A’ state softball tournament after they beat Lewiston-Altura (21-3 overall) 2-1 in eight innings in Todd Park Tuesday.
Blooming Prairie second baseman Kelsey Wolf makes a catch on a pop-fly running out during the first inning against Lewiston-Altura in the first round of the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night at Todd Park.
Swenson allowed a game-tying solo homer to LA’s Danielle Harstad in the bottom of the seventh and the Cardinals had runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and Harstad came to the plate again. Instead of walking Harstad with first base open, Swenson went after her and struck her out to win the game.
BP took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth when Tricia DeBoer slapped a double through a big hole in LA’s infield and she eventually scored on a wild pitch.
“I was excited. I was just thinking whatever happens run fast,” DeBoer said. “We haven’t had very many close games this year but it was good to pull this one off.”
Swenson, who finished with 13 strikeouts, also pitched out of a jam in the fifth when LA had runners on second and third with nobody out. In that frame, Swenson struck out two straight and forced a lineout to escape damage.
BP will play for a trip to state against Chatfield, which beat LA in an elimination game Thursday at 5 p.m. BP needs one win to advance, but if loses twice, it’s season is over.
“We’re all pretty excited and anxious. We’re ready to just go and play that game,” DeBoer said.
BP 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 — 2 6 0
Sam Ivers tries to lay down a bunt in the second inning against Lewiston-Altura during the first round of the Section 1A Tournament Tuesday night at Todd Park.
LA 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 5 0
BP pitching: Shelbi Swenson (W), 8 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 13 K
BP hitting: Tricia DeBoer, 1-for-4, double, R; Jenna Krell, 2-for-3, R; Hunter Henderson, 1-for-3, double, BB; Sam Ivers, 0-for-3, RBI; Kelsey Kubista, triple; Julia Manges, 1-for-3
