Hayfield softball team wins Section 1A West title
Published 8:08 pm Friday, May 27, 2016
Hayfield’s Carrie Rutledge looks back to Bethlehem Academy catcher Grace Viland as she works to try and get out of a rundown in the Section 1A West championship Friday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 1 seeded Hayfield softball team is on a mission to get back to the Class A state tournament, and it took a step towards that goal when it bounced back from some early struggles to beat No. 2 Faribault Bethlehem Academy 8-3 in the Section 1A West title game in Todd Park Friday.
FBA (15-7 overall) scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the second, but Hayfield (16-7 overall) had a big answer in the bottom of the second when Kelly Johnson tripled in a run, and Jackie Sanvick and Carrie Rutledge each had a two-out RBI.
Hayfield’s Brooke Zahnle looks the ball in as Bethlehem Academy’s Breanna DeGrood pulls into second during the Section 1A West championship Friday at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“We knew we had to do something quick to get the momentum going in our dugout,” said Hayfield catcher Grace Mindrup, who threw out two runners on the base paths in the win.
The Vikings added three more runs in the fourth to go up 6-2 when Alexis Dudycha and Mindrup each drove in a run.
FBA racked up 14 his in the game, but Hayfield committed zero errors and the Vikings outfielders made some big catches.
“Our outfielders are solid. We have four that can play out there easily and run down balls,” Hayfield head coach Jana Wagner said. “We’re pretty confident [overall]. We have a lot of teamwork and talking in the dugout instead of ‘me’ stuff.”
Johnson, a sophomore, gave the Vikings some big hitting from the No. 6 spot in the order as she was two-for-four with a double, a triple and three RBIs.
“I know that I need to go up there and get a hit, so that’s what I’m doing,” Johnson said. “[Grace] is looking at me and telling what I’m doing wrong and what I need to fix. It works out.”
Hayfield will take on the winner of Wabasha and Randolph in the Section 1A semifinals 5 p.m. Tuesday in Todd Park.
FBA 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 — 3 14 1
Hayfield 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 — 8 14 0
Hayfield pitching: Jackie Sanvick (W) 7 IP, 14 H, 2 BB, 3 R, 4 K, HBP
Hayfield hitting: Carrie Rutledge, 2-for-4, RBI; Alexis Dudycha, 1-for-4, RBI, R; Grace Mindrup, 1-for-4, RBI; Maggie Streightiff, 2-for-4, R; Olivia Matti, 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB; Kelly Johnson, 2-for-4, double, triple, 3 RBIs, R; Kate Kruger, 1-for-4; Sanvick, 2-for-3, RBI; Jacie Gustine, 2-for-3, RBI; Elecia Brown, 2 R; Jenna Jacobsen, R