Hayfield softball team has season end on walk-off hit
Published 7:41 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Hayfield’s Bhrett Zahnle is tagged by Chatfield first baseman Brook Irish as she tried diving back first base in the Section 1A elimination game Tuesday night at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Hayfield softball team let a late lead slip away as its season came to an end on a 4-3 loss to Chatfield in a Section 1A elimination game in Todd Park Tuesday.
Hayfield’s Kyal Heydt sneaks back to first before Chatfield’s Brook Irish can get the tag on her on a pick-off attempt in the Section 1A elimination game Tuesday at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Gophers (16-7 overall) won the game in the bottom of the eighth with one out when Sydney Gould singled in a run. Chatfield’s Jesse Erding reached on a throwing error to start the frame.
Chatfield tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh when Megan LaPlante walked and scored on a wild pitch.
Hayfield (17-5 overall) was held to less than five runs for just the fourth time this season in the loss as it had five hits.
“We had hoped to put six or seven [runs] on the board,” Hayfield assistant coach Fred Kindschy said. “We didn’t hit the ball like we needed to hit. That was a little disappointing. We know we’re not going to beat teams 1-0 or 2-0.”
The Vikings took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning when Dani Wagner scored on a double steal. Hayfield took a 2-0 lead in the in the top of the first when Grace Mindrup and Grace Walker hit sacrifice flies.
Hayfield will graduate five key seniors from this year’s squad and all of them have been on varsity for quite some time, including Wagner, who is headed to play with the University of Minnesota next spring.
“The senior girls have been playing here a long time,” Kindschy said. “We looked to them for a lot of leadership and they’re all pretty good athletes. You hate to lose that leadership and with Dani, we probably won’t see another one of those come along as long as we coach.”
Hayfield pitcher Alyssa Monahan delivers in the Section 1A elimination game against Chatfield Tuesday night at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield did have four middle schoolers on this year’s roster, so the team is hoping it can eventually rebuild.
“We were kind of in the same situation when [this year’s seniors] were eighth graders and we kind of threw them in the fire,” Kindschy said. “We suffered for a little bit and then we started reaping the benefits.”
Hayfield 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 3 5 1
Chatfield 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 — 4 4 1
Hayfield pitching: Rachel Monahan (L) 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 K
Hayfield hitting: Dani Wagner, 2 BBs, 2 HBPs, 2 R, 2 SB; Jessie Foster, 2-for-3, R, 2 SB, BB; Grace Mindrup, 0-for-2, RBI, HBP; Grace Walker, 2-for-4, double, RBI; Rachel Masching, 1-for-4; Bhrett Zahnle, 1-for-4; Kyal Heydt, 0-for-4; Lezlie Sorensen, 0-for-3; Carrie Rutledge, 0-for-3