Softball: Vikings win fourth straight Section 1A West title
Published 9:17 pm Thursday, May 24, 2018
- Hayfield’s Caitlyn Hendrickson pitches against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the Section 1A West Tournament at Todd Park Thursday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The top-seeded Hayfield softball team had to be patient, but it eventually broke through and won its fourth straight Section 1A West title in Todd Park Thursday.
The Vikings scored all of their runs in the last two innings as they beat No. 2 Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 8-0.
The game was scoreless after five innings when Hayfield senior Kelly Johnson knocked a sacrifice fly to deep center field and Carrie Rutledge doubled in another run. The hit was a big one for Johnson, who wasn’t sure she was even going to play this season after she suffered the second major knee injury of her career earlier this school year.
“That hit felt really, really nice,” Johnson said. “It was my first solid hit of the season. My teammates have been really supportive of me and it’s helped me a lot.”
Maggie Streightiff added a two-run homer to deep center in the sixth inning for Hayfield as they Vikings pulled away.
Hayfield freshman pitcher Caitlyn Hendrickson had a no-hitter through five innings, but she had to settle for the shutout as WEM led off the top of the sixth with a single.
“I kind of had an idea [about the no-hitter], but I don’t care as long as we win,” Hendrickson said. “I knew I had to do my best, throw the pitches I knew were working and let my defense work behind me. I knew our bats were going to come alive, it was just a matter of when.”
Hayfield’s Olivia Matti looks in a grounder against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the Section 1A West Tournament. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hayfield (12-7 overall) has won nine of its last 10 games after dropping six of its first eight games this season. Hendrickson said she wants to go as deep in the postseason as she can with the 10 senior players, who have stepped up as leaders for Hayfield over the past few years.
“I’m really thankful for every opportunity I get to play with these seniors,” Hendrickson said. “They’re great athletes, but they’re even better people.”
Hayfield will play Goodhue in the Section 1A semifinals in at 5 p.m. Todd Park Tuesday.
Hayfield’s Jenna Jacobsen steps back into first on a pick-off attempt against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the Section 1A West Tournament Thursday night in Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
WEM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 0
Hayfield 0 0 0 0 2 6 X – 8 10 1
Hayfield pitching: Caitlyn Hendrickson (W) 7 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 5 K
Hayfield hitting: Carrie Rutledge, 2-for-4, triple, RBI; Jenna Jacobsen, 2-for-3, RBI, 2 SB; Kyal Heydt, 1-for-4, R; Kate Kruger, 1-for-3; Cela Carney, R; Jaelynn Therring, 1-for-3, RBI, R; Olivia Matti, 1-for-1, RBI, 2 R, 2 BBs; Maggie Streightiff, 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Kelly Johnson, 1-for-2; Lexi Dudycha, 0-for-2, R, BB
Hayfield first baseman Kate Kruger pulls in a popfly against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the Section 1A West Tournament at Todd Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com