ARGYLE - Getting a grip on the ball proved to be a challenge for all players as the Argyle softball team played through rain and whipping wind to knock off Monticello 16-14 in a slugfest Monday.
"It came down to whoever could just throw the ball over the plate," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said.
Both the Orioles and Ponies each had two pitchers combine to walk 16 batters.
"The field conditions were terrible, and it was freezing cold," Ganshert said.
Ganshert said the team didn't want to postpone the game because they already have two games rescheduled they have to make up with a tournament next weekend and a rescheduled game against Monticello the week after that.
"We are running out of days to make up games," Ganshert said.
Monticello and Argyle each pounded out 15 hits.
The Ponies jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Argyle junior pitcher Kaylie Berget. Berget pitched two innings and gave up seven earned runs on nine hits and walked four.
Argyle (8-5, 2-3 Six Rivers East) rallied with a five-run bottom of the first. The Orioles broke the game open with an 11-run second.
"I just told my pitchers we have to get the ball over the plate," Ganshert said. "I knew if we started hitting we would be all right, and we did. Our bats really came alive in the second inning."
With the Orioles leading 7-4 in the second with two outs, the Ponies (1-7, 1-4 Six Rivers East) had a chance to get out of the jam on a grounder to third base. Instead, the Ponies made a wild throw to the plate, and the Orioles scored the run to open an 8-4 lead. Argyle went on to score eight more runs in the second.
"With two out in the second inning, we had a mental error and that led to a throwing error at home," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "If we throw to first we probably get out of the inning. Instead, they went on to score nine more runs. It was just a tough break for us."
Argyle junior Morgan Nelson went 4-for-5 with a double, and senior Kayla Butler-Paulson was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Junior Brianne Connors went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Argyle sophomore Erin Bruehlman and senior Morgan Godfrey each drove in two runs.
Argyle junior Taylor Mathys pitched five innings to get the win. She gave up six runs but just three earned runs on six hits. She struck out four and walked 12.
"She (Mathys) really got it done when we needed it in the last two innings," Ganshert said. "She did the best she could under the circumstances."
Monticello senior Jessie Garrison went 3-for-3 with two RBI and sophomore Jacy Rufer was also 3-for-3. Sophomore Claire Klossner went 3-for-4. Senior Chandler Hanson and sophomore Lindsay Pence each had two RBI for the Ponies.
"We hit the ball hard," Duane Garrison said.
Monticello freshman Mia Brokopp pitched a third of an inning and gave up five runs and walked seven. Garrison pitched 52⁄3 innings in relief and gave up 11 runs on 15 hits. She walked nine and struck out none.
"Pitching was surely a factor," Garrison said. "Neither team could throw strikes early on."
Ganshert was excited the Orioles found a way to win despite the cold, wet and windy weather.
"I think right now they are all must-win games for us," she said. "This was a good win for us despite the cold weather."
"It came down to whoever could just throw the ball over the plate," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said.
Both the Orioles and Ponies each had two pitchers combine to walk 16 batters.
"The field conditions were terrible, and it was freezing cold," Ganshert said.
Ganshert said the team didn't want to postpone the game because they already have two games rescheduled they have to make up with a tournament next weekend and a rescheduled game against Monticello the week after that.
"We are running out of days to make up games," Ganshert said.
Monticello and Argyle each pounded out 15 hits.
The Ponies jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Argyle junior pitcher Kaylie Berget. Berget pitched two innings and gave up seven earned runs on nine hits and walked four.
Argyle (8-5, 2-3 Six Rivers East) rallied with a five-run bottom of the first. The Orioles broke the game open with an 11-run second.
"I just told my pitchers we have to get the ball over the plate," Ganshert said. "I knew if we started hitting we would be all right, and we did. Our bats really came alive in the second inning."
With the Orioles leading 7-4 in the second with two outs, the Ponies (1-7, 1-4 Six Rivers East) had a chance to get out of the jam on a grounder to third base. Instead, the Ponies made a wild throw to the plate, and the Orioles scored the run to open an 8-4 lead. Argyle went on to score eight more runs in the second.
"With two out in the second inning, we had a mental error and that led to a throwing error at home," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "If we throw to first we probably get out of the inning. Instead, they went on to score nine more runs. It was just a tough break for us."
Argyle junior Morgan Nelson went 4-for-5 with a double, and senior Kayla Butler-Paulson was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Junior Brianne Connors went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Argyle sophomore Erin Bruehlman and senior Morgan Godfrey each drove in two runs.
Argyle junior Taylor Mathys pitched five innings to get the win. She gave up six runs but just three earned runs on six hits. She struck out four and walked 12.
"She (Mathys) really got it done when we needed it in the last two innings," Ganshert said. "She did the best she could under the circumstances."
Monticello senior Jessie Garrison went 3-for-3 with two RBI and sophomore Jacy Rufer was also 3-for-3. Sophomore Claire Klossner went 3-for-4. Senior Chandler Hanson and sophomore Lindsay Pence each had two RBI for the Ponies.
"We hit the ball hard," Duane Garrison said.
Monticello freshman Mia Brokopp pitched a third of an inning and gave up five runs and walked seven. Garrison pitched 52⁄3 innings in relief and gave up 11 runs on 15 hits. She walked nine and struck out none.
"Pitching was surely a factor," Garrison said. "Neither team could throw strikes early on."
Ganshert was excited the Orioles found a way to win despite the cold, wet and windy weather.
"I think right now they are all must-win games for us," she said. "This was a good win for us despite the cold weather."
