Fast start propels Redskins to victory

ST. MARYS - St. Henry plated four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, posting a 9-3 non-conference softball victory over St. Marys Thursday at K.C. Geiger Park.

Liz Uhlenhake went the distance on the mound for the Redskins. She scattered five hits and did not give up a walk until the seventh inning.

"She's really, really consistent," St. Henry coach Kylie Huelsman said. "We can always rely on her not giving away any freebies. She did a great job tonight of keeping the ball out of reach, but in the strike zone."

Uhlenhake did not record a strikeout but kept the Roughriders from making solid contact for most of the game.

"We weren't patient at the plate," St. Marys Coach Sue Grothause said. "We were out front reaching for the ball. We need to better understand the speed of the pitcher."

Two walks sandwiched around two singles helped the Redskins plate four runs in the first.

St. Marys sophomore pitcher Allison Langsdon settled down after the first, giving up an unearned run in the fifth and then struggled with her control in the sixth, walking three and giving up four more runs.

"I was happy with the way Allison performed," Grothause said. "Actually, this is the first time we had a pitcher finish the whole game this season. She hit her spots and kept the ball down. She was inconsistent, but that will come with experience."

Landgson walked nine, struck out seven and gave up seven hits.

Other than leaving the bases loaded in the third inning, the Redskins hit the ball well with runners in scoring position.

"That's one thing we've been struggling with," Huelsman said. "We get runners on base and freeze. Today, to see the girls hit the ball with two outs or to hit the ball with two strikes, is a big deal for us.

"We're at point where we're ready to play our best ball," Huelsman added. "And we're ready to carry that into the first game of the tournament."

Uhlenhake helped her cause at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Cara Brockman also had two hits for the Redskins with a double and a single.

Seeded fifth in the Division IV Sectional, St. Henry will host Fort Recovery in the first round game next Thursday.

St. Marys broke up the shutout with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when freshman Maddie Howell ripped a two-out double to left. She scored on a single by Langsdon before Leigha Gilbert grounded out to second to end the game.

"We didn't quit. We came back a little in that last inning and started hitting the ball," Grothause said. "That's just something we need to build on and stay positive."

In the midst of a 12-game losing streak, the young Riders fell to 2-15 on the season. St. Marys travels to Bryan Tuesday for its first-round game in the Division II Sectional.