Sanders strikes out 11 of 12 in relief as HTC girls fall

BY PCC STAFF

WEST POINT - Holy Trinity spotted Louisa-Muscatine (8-1) seven runs in the first two innings enroute to 13-1 loss at home Wednesday night.

Mary Hellige went the distance again for HTC giving up 13 runs, just four earned, on 18 hits and three walks. She struck out one and falls to 0-5 on the year.

Anna Sobczak had the only hit of the night for HTC, a one out single in the bottom of the third with the Falcons up 7-0. The hit loaded the bases with Kelli Meierotto and Raquel Schneider on at 3rd and 2nd. Brooke Mueller would ground into a fielder's choice at second where Meierotto was gunned down on a force at home.

The runners advanced on Mueller's hit. Haily Cain would then work a base on balls to score Schneider from third for the Crusaders' only run of the night. Hellige would ground out to third to end the inning.

Louisa-Muscatine would then bring in Haley Sanders, one of the top pitchers in the state, who came into Wednesday's game with 52 strikeouts. She earned the billing fanning 11 of the next 12 Crusaders to step to the plate. Laura Mehmert was the only Holy Trinity girls to put the bat on the ball when she grounded an 0-1 pitch to first with one out in the seventh.

HTC was still in the game after six, but the Lady Falcons put up a six-spot in the top of the 7th to put the game away.

Holy Trinity will host their third game of the week Friday at South Park against Hillcrest Academy (0-4) in a varsity only 6:30 p.m. start.