Wednesday, May 11th, 2016
Cards fall, still claim piece of MAC title
By Dave Stilwell
NEW BREMEN - Versailles' only hit of the game could not have been more timely.
Sarah Gigandet lashed a two-out, two-strike pitch just beyond the reach of New Bremen's left fielder, scoring two unearned runs to give the Tigers a 2-1 victory and a share of the Midwest Athletic Conference softball title Tuesday on the Cardinal diamond.
New Bremen and Versailles both own a piece of the MAC title at 6-1. Parkway, 5-1, can also grab a share with a win Friday at home against Coldwater.
The two Versailles runs in the third inning held up, spoiling a dominating pitching performance by New Bremen junior Sophie Fox, who surrendered just one hit, while striking out 12.
"This was what a championship game should be all about," New Bremen coach Craig Griesdorn said. "Basically, it came down to one inning, and we played pretty well defensively except for that one inning."
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Fox coaxed a lead-off walk from Versailles starter Lauren Heitkamp. Pinch-runner Madysson Ritter stole second and scored two outs later on a single by Madison Wells.
The Tigers took advantage of two New Bremen errors in the third. Heitkamp became her team's first base runner when a one-out grounder to first could not be fielded cleanly.
Following a pop-out bunt attempt, a fly ball by Kristin Langston bounced out of the glove of the New Bremen left-fielder, putting runners on second and third. Gigandet followed with the clutch two-run double.
New Bremen had base runners in each of the last six innings, but were caught stealing twice and could not sustain a rally.
"We were putting the ball in play, but Versailles made plays," Griesdorn said. "That's what it came down to today. We had opportunities. We didn't get a big hit, and we got thrown out stealing, but that's the way we played all year."
Heitkamp scattered five hits - all singles - while walking three and striking out seven to get the win for Versailles.
Fox did not allow a walk to go along with her 12 strikeouts to add to a very impressive season total of 138 strikeouts to just four walks.
She pitched very well," Griesdorn said. "She did what she was asked to do. We need to make plays behind her and get out bats going. Give their pitcher credit too, she did an outstanding job of changing speeds and mixing it up."
New Bremen, 13-5 overall and seeded number one in the Division IV Sectional Tournament, will host Spencerville in a round two game Thursday. Just last Friday the Cardinals beat the Bearcats 12-2 in a regular season game at New Bremen.
"Even though we've already played them, it's tournament time and anything can happen," Griesdorn said. "We're going to have to be better defensively and offensively for us to advance, especially in this sectional where anybody can beat anybody."
