By Marc Tobias
mtobias@dailystandard.com MARIA STEIN — Celina was able to take advantage of two Marion Local errors in the fourth inning to post a 2-0 win in softball action last night.
Melanie Heyne picked up the complete game shutout for the Bulldogs while Dana Hartings went the distance but suffered the loss for the Flyers.
“We know that Dana is going to be one of the best pitchers we face, she’s had a nice career and will continue to have a nice career in college and anytime you can get a ÔW’ against her you have to be happy,” said Celina coach John Hendricks.
Allison Hoying reached base to start the crucial fourth inning for Celina when Hartings dropped what appeared to be a routine pop fly in the infield.
Jamie Siefker then walked to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Celina’s Kelli Williams followed with a grounder to Hartings. The Flyers’ ace attempted to pick off the lead runner at third, but her throw went into left field and allowed Hoying to score and put runners at the corners.
Megan Harner then reached on an infield single to load the bases with no one out in the inning. A passed ball allowed Siefker to score from third for the 2-0 Bulldogs lead.
Hartings was able to buckle down and get out of the fourth inning after the second run, but the damage was done as the Flyers were unable to touch Heyne for any runs and just four hits.
“Two unearned runs and that killed us basically, otherwise it’d be 0-0 and we’d still be playing,” said Marion Local coach Gary Moeder. “We’d get runners on and get them in scoring position, but it’s getting to the point where (Continued from page 1B) we just need to finish it. It’s taking time but its only the second week of the season too, so we’re getting there.”
Heyne finished with nine strikeouts and three walks to help the Bulldogs improve to 4-1.
The loss drops Marion Local to 3-2 on the season.
Marion Local had threats in second and fourth as they put runners in scoring position, but the Flyers were unable to come up with the big hit to put a score on the board.
“They had an opportunity a couple times with a runner in scoring position with less than one out and we were able to get out of that, and with Melanie you’ll have that because not every out is going to be put in play because she’s going to strike some out,” Hendricks said.
Megan Harner was the only player on either side to get multiple hits as she finished 2-for-3 with a double and stolen base.
Despite the loss, Hartings struck out 11 with just one walk allowed.
Celina returns to action Thursday at Lima Senior. |
