May 24 @ Morris

Section 3AA playoffs

West Central 14 

Minnewaska 13

The Minnewaska softball team began the Section 3AA playoffs on Tuesday in Morris. The Lakers were the #5 seed and took on the #4 seed from West Central. The Lakers and Knights had played twice during the regular season, with the Knights winning both contests, including a 6-3 win just five days earlier.

The game didn’t begin well for the Lakers, with West Central picking up three runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Minnewaska wasn’t going to go quietly and struck back for a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Jenna Drewes led off the inning with a double, ten scored on a one-out single by Olivia Richards. Maddy Meulebroeck launched a triple to score Richards and the Lakers were right back in the game.

West Central decided to make a pitching change for the top of the fourth and it didn’t go well. After three consecutive walks another pitching change was made. Another walk from the new pitcher was followed by doubles from Brooklyn Larson and Olivia Richards, each driving in two runs. 

The starting pitcher returned to get the next three batters out but the damage had been done to the tune of a six-run inning.

The Lakers didn’t get to enjoy their 8-3 lead for very long. West Central put up a five-spot in their half of the fourth, knotting the game at 8-8.

Minnewaska went back out in front, 10-8, after Olivia Richards brought home two runs with her second double of the game.

The Lakers extended their lead with three more runs in the top of the sixth inning. With one out Ally Mogard was hit by a pitch and Brenna Larson reached on a fielding error.  Leslie Murken stepped in and smashed a double, bringing both runners around to score. Grace Larson followed with an RBI single, giving Minnewaska a 13-8 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

In their half of the sixth the Knights used two walks, two singles and a double to score five times, evening the score at 13-13.

The seventh inning saw both teams having their best betters coming to the plate. But Minnewaska was set down in order in the top of the inning. West Central would bat in the bottom of the seventh with a chance to win the game.

A walk and a fielder’s choice put a runner on first base with two outs. A hard grounder to third was deflected into short left field. The runner from first rounded second and headed to third. A misplay in the field allowed the runner to turn for third and make it home just ahead of the throw to the plate, giving the Knights a crazy 14-13 win.

Olivia Richards and Jenna Drewes had big games at the plate, with Richards driving in five runs with three hits including a pair of doubles. Drewes knocked in three runs on two hits with a double mixed in.

The season ended for the Lakers with a 3-12 final record. But they didn’t go down without a fight.   

Lakers  002 623 0 – 13 10 2 

WC       300 505 1 – 14 12 1

HITTING – Minnewaska:

Brooklyn Larson 1-5 2b r-2 rbi-2, Olivia Richards 3-5 2b-2 r rbi-5, Maddy Meulebroeck 1-4 3b rbi, Ally Mogard 0-4 r, Brenna Larson 0-3 r-2, Leslie Murken 1-2 2b r-2 rbi-2, Grace Larson 1-3 r rbi, Leah Hagen 1-2 r rbi, Jenna Drewes 2-3 2b r-3 rbi  

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so)

Brenna Larson (L) 6.2-12-14-10-7-2