Holy Trinity girls win two of three

Down Danville on Thursday, then split with Mt. Pleasant Friday in doubleheader

PCC SPORTS

WEST POINT - The Holy Trinity girls snapped a three-game mini skid with a 16-1 win over Danville on Thursday, and then split a doubleheader with Mt. Pleasant Friday.

The Crusaders are currently sitting in the middle of the pack at 4th place in the SEI Superconference South Division with a 4-4 mark and are 7-8 overall on the year.

On Thursday, junior Mary Hellige got the win in the circle and allowed just one run unearned and two hits while striking out five and walking two.

She also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and 5 RBI to go along with three runs scored. Anna Sobczak, who leads the Superconference South with a .571 batting average and On-Base-Average of .671 from her lead-off spot, had two hits and three runs scored

Kayla Box, Jenna DiPrima, and Kelli Meierotto each had two hits. DiPrima drove in four runs.

The first four hitters reached base for the Crusaders with Sobczak getting on with her patented drag bunt. Haile Cain doubled followed by a Hellige single, both driving in runs. Mueller walked and DiPrima hit into a fielder's choice RBI before a fly out ended the inning.

Danville scored its only run on a Mackenzie Morris double to center scoring Carlea Beckman.

HTC put up four more in the second including two more RBI from Hellige on a single to right. Cain and DiPrima added RBIs as well. Hellige would get two more RBI in the top of the third when she belted a two-run triple to right. Box would follow up with an other triple bringing around Brooke Mueller, who reached on a base on balls. After all was said in done, the Crusaders scored five times in the third for a 12-1 lead.

Hellige pitched a clean bottom half of the third, and HTC would pile on four more runs in the top of the fourth for a 16-1 lead and the 12-run rule awaiting the Bears in the bottom half. Hayden Mutchler singled to open the half. Hellige coaxed a fly out to center for the first out, but then two errors loaded the bases.

Hellige needed five pitches to fan Morris and then a ground out ended the affair.

On Friday, the Crusaders had a rare doubleheader with the Panthers. Hellige gave up 15 runs just four earned on 13 hits, while fanning three.

The Crusaders trailed by just two runs 11-9 going into the seventh inning. Mt. Pleasant started with two singles. A passed ball allowed both runners to move up a bag. An infield error allowed one run to score making it 12-9 and then Jersey Beachy lined a double to center scoring two more for a 14-9 lead.

HTC would get the next two batters in order, but a wild pitch allowed Beach to score for a 15-9 lead.

Hellige popped out to center to start the bottom of the seventh, before Brooke Mueller singled, Box drew a walk, and DiPrima singled to load the bases with one out. Rachel Menke then walked after working the count full to score Mueller for a 15-10 score and bring the tying run to the plate.

After a Panther pitching change, Laura Mehmert fanned and Meierotto grounded out to short to end the rally and the game.

The Crusaders started strong in the night cap putting up five runs all with two outs in the first inning highlighted by doubles from Hellige and DiPrima. DiPrima drove in two with her shot to center. HTC would add a run in the second when Sobczak was hit by a pitch and then stole second and third, and came around on a throwing error to third.

The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the third with an unearned run. Holy Trinity responded with a run in the bottom half when DiPrima scored on a wild pitch.

Two errors and two hits had the Crusaders in trouble in the top of the fourth. One of the errors resulted in a two runs coming in to cut the lead to 7-3 and then Ella McNamee lined a double to left scoring another run for the Panthers before HTC could record an out.

But the Crusaders tightened up the defense and got the next three of four Mt. Pleasant hitters out to get out of the inning with a 7-4 lead.

Mt. Pleasant held the Crusaders scoreless in the bottom of the fourth and then put another run on the board in to the top of the fifth when Bethany Drury swiped home on a double steal to cut the lead to two at 7-5. But both pitchers would hold clean innings the rest of the way to give HTC the win.

Hellige went all seven innings allowing just one earned run on 11 hits and striking out one. She had two hits and a run scored. DiPrima went 2 of 3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Box had two hits and an RBI and Meierotto had a hit and two RBI.

The Crusaders travel to New London on Tuesday and the host Hillcrest Academy Friday before traveling to Kalona for the Hillcrest Classic on Saturday.