HTC girls lose close one to Van Buren; down Hillcrest

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Take on Class 3A No. 8 West Burlington Tuesday at South Park

PCC SPORTS

KEOSAUQUA - A big 3-run fifth inning helped Holy Trinity Catholic tie things up with Van Buren Monday night, but the Warriors got a walk-off in extra innings to stave off the comeback.

The Warriors took advantage of an extra inning error on a grounder to short and would bring the runner around on a Jade Balmer two-out single to right for a 4-3 win in SEI Superconference girls action.

Holy Trinity (9-9, 5-6) was down 3-0 going into the top half of the fifth when Rachel Menke opened the frame with a single on the first pitch of the inning from Van Buren's Alli Campbell. After a strike out Kelli Meierotto singled moving Menke to second.

Anna Sobczak laid down a successful bunt to load the bases and Haile Cain grounded into a fielder's choice to third. Menke scored on the throw home from third and everyone else was safe keeping the bases loaded at 3-1.

Mary Hellige then singled to center scoring Meierotto. Brooke Mueller would line out back to the pitcher for the second out, but Sobczak would come in to score on a wild pitch to knot things up at 3 before Jenna DiPrima hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Neither team would score again through seven forcing extra innings. HTC went 3-up, 3-down in the top half of the eighth. Van Buren's McKenna Caviniss hit a 2-2 pitch hard to short and an error on the play allowed her advance to second base in scoring position.

Julia Meek came in as a courtesy runner and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Hellige would get the next hitter looking at strike three for the second out, but Balmer hit a fly ball to right that fell in for the game-winner.

Hellige went 7 2/3 giving up four runs, just one earned on six hits while fanning five and walking three. The junior was also 2-4 at the plate with an RBI. Sobczak was 2-4 with a run scored. Menke and Meierotto had the other hits for HTC.

On Friday, the Crusaders rolled Hillcrest 12-5 at South Park.

HTC put up six runs in the third inning and three in the fourth on the way to the victory. However the girls trailed 3-1 going into the third.

Sobczak executed another successful bunt and Cain walked before Hellige tripled to right scoring both runners to tie things up. Brooke Mueller would single to drive in Hellige. After a strike out DiPrima was hit by a pitch. Menke then singled to load the bases and Meierotto would double clearing the bases for a 7-3 HTC lead.

Hillcrest would put up a run in the fourth and fifth, but Hellige was able to keep the game under control as the Crusader offense tacked on five more in the Holy Trinity half of the fourth and fifth to put the game away.

Hellige again lasted all seven innings giving up four hits and five runs, none earned on six strikeouts. Hellige led the Crusaders at the plate going 4-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mueller was 3-5 with 3 RBI and three runs scored. Sobczak and Kayla Box both had multiple hit nights for Holy Trinity.

The girls take on Class 3A No. 8 West Burlington (21-4, 11-0) Tuesday night at South Park

crusaders, Hillcrest Academy, Holy Trinity Catholic, iowa, lee county, Pen City Current, softball, Van Buren, varsity, west point

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