Morris Area falls in 8th

The Morris Area softball team lost to West Central Conference South leading Minnewaska Area 4-2 in extra innings Thursday at home.

Dani Schultz scored both runs for Morris.

With two outs in the third inning, Schultz walked and stole second. The throw to second went into centerfield and Schultz scored on a slide into home plate.

"Schultz looked like a Minnesota Twin sliding into home," said coach Mary Holmberg. "She swept her hand across home plate to score our first run."

Schultz scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, she doubled and ended up on third due to an error. Heather Gagner fouled off four pitches before hitting a single up the middle to score Schultz.

"I think Schultz was ready to steal home, but Heather hit the ball hard up the middle," said Holmberg.

The Lakers responded with two base hits and scored on a Tiger error and a fielder's choice to go up two runs in the top of the eighth.

The Tigers had a chance to score in the fifth. Haley Henrichs had singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shadow Olson. Schultz singled and Henrichs tried to go home on an overthrow.

"I had held her at third and when the overthrow happened, I reacted by saying 'go,'" said Holmberg. "I made the mistake that probably cost us a run.

"Our best chances to score were in the middle innings. Minnewaska made some nice catches on fly balls. The Tigers could not get the big hit to break open an inning."

Offensively, Mary Rentz and Courtney Vogel each had two hits.

"Schultz hit and ran the bases well," added Holmberg.

Defensively, Olson had six put outs in center field.

"Olson did a very nice job of keeping her eye on the ball," said Holmberg.

Henrichs had five assists and two put outs at third base.

"Henrichs handled the ground balls very well," she said.

Rentz and Schultz capitalized on a couple Laker base-running mistakes.

MacKenzie Weatherly took the loss.

"Weatherly scattered her hits and the defense made some nice plays.

"It was a well-played ball game by both teams," Holmberg concluded.