ARGYLE — In a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal game that featured 12 errors and 10 stolen base attempts, Argyle-Black Hawk ran away with a 9-1 win over Belleville May 16.
The two teams had previously met April 19, where there were 24 total hits and 14 combined errors in the game.
“We knew we had to hit. Last time, we had too many errors. This time we had five. That’s still too many errors,” Argyle-Black Hawk head coach Heidi Ganshert said. Her team was also aggressive on the basepaths, stealing five bags. “That was the plan when we saw how they were reacting. We were hoping to take advantage on the bases, and the kids did.”
Argyle-Black Hawk got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Sam Kammes and Alexis Rosenstiel hit back-to-back singles, including a bunt from Rosenstiel. After a strikeout, Brinley Meinert reached on a hard grounder that ricocheted off the foot of first baseman Bryn Prochaska. Two runs scored, as the ball trickled into the outfield.
The Orioles ran themselves out of the inning, though, as Kylie Butler flew out to left. Meinert tagged up but was thrown out at home to end the inning.
A leadoff walk came back to hurt Mya McNett, as Sophie Fossum drove in Lindsey Kittleson with a single between first base and the pitcher’s circle.
ABH erased that run in the bottom of the third. Lange was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a passed ball from Fossum, making it a 3-1 game.
McNett had her fair share of struggles on the mound, and they nearly compounded in a big inning for Belleville.
Hayden Caskey drew a full-count walk to lead off the top of the fourth. Nora Christensen singled up the middle, and Brianna Wihlemson’s throw back to the infield missed the cut, allowing both runners to move up 60 feet. Kittleson drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases with just one out.
The Wildcats were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, as Korynn Potter flew out to right. The ball popped out of Rosenstiel’s glove, but Caskey remained at third thinking Rosenstiel would make the catch. Rosenstiel recovered the loose ball and threw Caskey out at home. Fossum then grounded into a fielder’s choice.
“We did it by the skin of our teeth and the luck of — something,” Ganshert said. “We are just walking too many people at the moment and putting a lot of people on base. Against a different team, the outcome might be a little different.”
ABH was poised to enforce the mercy rule in the fifth, putting up five runs. Kammes was hit by a pitch, and Rosenstiel laid down her third bunt of the day. First baseman Prochaska fielded cleanly, but her throw went into the outfield, allowing Kammes to take three. Rosenstiel then stole second. Adrionna Ubersox reached on an error as Kammes scored.
Meinert tacked on another run with a hit down the third-base line. Wilhelmson followed with a soft slap, infield single. She came around to score on an outfield error. Back-to-back hits by Butler and Lange put ABH in a position to end the game early, but Lange was called out for leading off too early.
The Orioles sent nine batters to the plate that inning and scored five runs on five hits, aided by four errors and two stolen bases. After five full innings, ABH led 9-1.
Belleville left four runners stranded over the last two innings, including bases loaded in the sixth.
Rosenstiel led the Oriole offense with three bunt singles, scoring two runs. Kammes, Meinert and Wilhelmson also recorded multiple-hit games. Although McNett didn’t have her best stuff, she still picked up the win. She gave up one run on three hits, struck out nine and walked nine. McNett threw 155 pitches with 79 of them for strikes.
