Sunday, May 16, 1999
Lakota East, Mercy win softball sectionals
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
When Lakota East pitcher Laura Day is on, catcher Cadee Schumacher relaxes and enjoys the ride.
Taking advantage of five McAuley errors, the Thunderhawks followed Day to a 4-0 victory over the Mohawks to win the Division I sectional softball championship Saturday at Lakota Freshman School.
“I've been catching Laura since the fifth grade,” Schumacher said. “Today she was very fast and hitting the corners. It's easy to catch when she's having a good day.”
Besides Day's pitching, an outstanding defensive play by Schumacher and outfielder Christin Flores in the first inning keyed the victory.
Flores cleanly fielded a line drive single by Stephanie Salas. Without hesitating, she threw to Schumacher and nailed Kristi Bodley attempting to score from second.
“It was a rainbow-type throw that was right there,” Lakota East coach Steve Castner said. “On a throw like that, some catchers try to make the tag before catching the ball, but Cadee did it right.”
The play sparked Lakota East, which took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Julie Cole scored from third on a passed ball by McAuley catcher Kristen Hillebrand.
That was all Day needed. She limited the Mohawks to singles in the fourth and fifth innings and had no walks.
“I love pitching in the warmer weather and today was perfect,” Day said. “Cadee and I have been together for a long time, and I let her call the game. I seldom shake off a sign.”
The Thunderhawks sealed the win in the fourth, scoring three unearned runs thanks to three McAuley errors, a walk and a hit batsman.
“Bunting is our trademark, because it's so important in softball,” Castner said. “In some games, the bunts only get runners in scoring position, but today they scored runs.”
Lakota East advances to the Division I District championship game Saturday at Wright State against Fairborn.
McAuley ....... 000 000 0—0 4 5
Lakota East ....... 010 300 x—4 4 1
WP—Day. LP—Zoller. Hitting leaders: LW—
Gray 2B; Cole 2-3. M—Bodley 2-3. Records:
• Mercy 2, Lakota West 1, Cincinnati Division I sectional at Lakota Freshman School — Joy Hertsenberg scored on a throwing error in the 12th inning, advancing the Bobcats to the sectional championship game at 5p.m. Monday against Seton.
In a game suspended Friday after 11 innings, Mercy's Angie Heintz hit a single with Joy Hertsenberg going from first to third base. When the throw to third was off the mark, Hertsenberg scored.
“Both teams deserved to win the game,” Mercy coach Karen Kron said. “We have a habit of letting teams score in the first inning, but today we had to be mentally ready to play from the start.”
Lakota West ....... 100 000 000 000—1 9 3
Mercy ....... 000 100 000 001—2 7 5
WP—O'Donnell (6 K's). LP—Beck (8 K's). Hitting leaders: LW—Nowicki 2-4, 2B. M—Heintz 2-5; Hertsenberg 2-5. Records: M 17-6.
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