Softball: Packers bow out to Winhawks
Published 10:05 pm Friday, May 23, 2014
Austin’s Sydney Murphy slides into third as Winona pitcher Ashton Hoeppner tries to cover in the first inning of their Section 1AAA matchup Friday night at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 10 seeded Austin softball team had its season come to an end in a 5-1 loss to No. 6 Winona in the Section 1AAA tournament in Todd Park Friday.
Austin’s Erin Dankert pulls the ball out of the air on the run against Winona in the Section 1AAA tournament Friday at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers (5-16 overall) opened strong as three of their first four hitters reached base in the top of the first, but they scored just one run on an RBI single by Abbey Ball and they had only three hits the rest of the way.
The Winhawks took a 3-1 lead in the third when they took advantage of an Austin error and they took advantage of another Austin error in the sixth to go up 5-1.
“We had a good section run,” Austin head coach Cindy Owen said. “We just had some untimely errors and Winona capitalized on that.”
Ball allowed just four hits, three walks and one earned run in her last start for the Packers. She will play at UW-Stout next season. Ball was glad to have played on the second day of the section tournament for the first time in her softball career.
“It was definitely good to go out on that note. At least I ended it on a better note than I started with,” Ball said. “I know for sure on Wednesday I gave it my all because I didn’t want to leave the field wishing I could’ve done more. Today I had the same attitude and we just couldn’t put anything together.”
Owen said Ball and senior Erin Dankert will be missed next season.
“Erin Dankert and Abbey Ball gave us great senior leadership. Abbey stayed very focused in the postseason and we wish her the best of luck at Stout,” she said.
Austin 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 5 3
Austin’s Vanessa Halverson is hit by a pitch against Winona in the Section 1AAA playoffs Friday at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Winona 0 0 3 0 0 2 X — 5 4 0
Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (L) 6 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Austin hitting: Sydney Murphy, 0-for-2, R, BB; Bailee Brooks, 0-for-2; Shayley Vesel, 2-for-3, double; Ball, 1-for-2, RBI, BB; Jordan Huntley, 1-for-3; Erin Dankert, 1-for-3; Vanessa Halverson, 0-for-2, HBP; Brooke Pazurek, 0-for-1, BB; Jaidyn Bastian, 0-for-3
