GRATIOT - Monticello softball coach Duane Garrison has no fear in giving his team the green light on the bases in the middle of a pitcher's duel.
Monticello (4-6, 2-3 Six Rivers East) stole five bases and scored three unearned runs to edge Black Hawk, 3-2, Tuesday in Gratiot. One day after having three players thrown out at home and another at third in a 3-2 loss to Argyle, the Ponies weren't going to shy away from forcing the issue on the bases.
"Ever since I have been coaching, with any speed at all; we are going to be aggressive," Garrison said. "My leadoff hitter - (Taylor) Pfeuti causes havoc. She is so fast. A lot has to happen to throw us out. We only have to run from point A to point B. They have to do three things right to get us."
Black Hawk junior Kim Wellnitz carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Warriors still trailed 3-2. Monticello senior Mary Hershberger lined a single to center in the sixth to break up the no-hit bid. Olivia Doyle then singled to right and took second on a throw to third. Wellnitz finally worked out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Courtney Erb to ground out.
Wellnitz pitched a complete game and gave up three unearned runs on two hits. She struck out four and walked eight. With the loss, Black Hawk drops to 3-4, 2-3.
Hershberger was just as impressive for the Ponies, pitching a complete game to get the win. She gave up two runs on two hits, while striking out eight and walking two.
"We are just not hitting the ball," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said. "That's the bottom line. You are not going to win too many games when you get two runs and two hits."
The Ponies put pressure on the Warriors early with some aggressive base running. Monticello freshman Tanya Smith walked leading off the second. She stole second and later scored on a passed ball.
With two outs in the third, Pfeuti walked and stole second and third. Wellnitz then walked Becky Nelson, who stole second. Pfeuti scored when the throw from the catcher to third went into left field to give the Ponies a 2-0 lead.
"They shouldn't have had any one of those two runs," Jackson said. "They never had an earned run. That's the way it goes when you are struggling."
Black Hawk came back and tied the score in the fourth. Wellnitz singled to break up Hershberger's no-hitter. Wellnitz stole second, then Savannah Kaster singled. Kaster then stole second and Wellnitz scored when the throw went to second. Kaster later scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch.
Hershberger knows in a pitcher's duel each pitch becomes bigger, she said.
"After they (Black Hawk) scored those two runs, I was kind of nervous," Hershberger said. "I just had to focus. I set my mind to it that we were going to win and we did.
"I know I have a good team behind me. I know I just have to throw strikes."
Monticello answered in the fifth after freshman Des Marty walked and came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to give the Ponies a 3-2 victory.
Garrison knows a solid defensive game, committing no errors, is critical with Hershberger on the mound.
"With her changeup, she really kept them off balance," Garrison said.
Monticello (4-6, 2-3 Six Rivers East) stole five bases and scored three unearned runs to edge Black Hawk, 3-2, Tuesday in Gratiot. One day after having three players thrown out at home and another at third in a 3-2 loss to Argyle, the Ponies weren't going to shy away from forcing the issue on the bases.
"Ever since I have been coaching, with any speed at all; we are going to be aggressive," Garrison said. "My leadoff hitter - (Taylor) Pfeuti causes havoc. She is so fast. A lot has to happen to throw us out. We only have to run from point A to point B. They have to do three things right to get us."
Black Hawk junior Kim Wellnitz carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Warriors still trailed 3-2. Monticello senior Mary Hershberger lined a single to center in the sixth to break up the no-hit bid. Olivia Doyle then singled to right and took second on a throw to third. Wellnitz finally worked out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Courtney Erb to ground out.
Wellnitz pitched a complete game and gave up three unearned runs on two hits. She struck out four and walked eight. With the loss, Black Hawk drops to 3-4, 2-3.
Hershberger was just as impressive for the Ponies, pitching a complete game to get the win. She gave up two runs on two hits, while striking out eight and walking two.
"We are just not hitting the ball," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said. "That's the bottom line. You are not going to win too many games when you get two runs and two hits."
The Ponies put pressure on the Warriors early with some aggressive base running. Monticello freshman Tanya Smith walked leading off the second. She stole second and later scored on a passed ball.
With two outs in the third, Pfeuti walked and stole second and third. Wellnitz then walked Becky Nelson, who stole second. Pfeuti scored when the throw from the catcher to third went into left field to give the Ponies a 2-0 lead.
"They shouldn't have had any one of those two runs," Jackson said. "They never had an earned run. That's the way it goes when you are struggling."
Black Hawk came back and tied the score in the fourth. Wellnitz singled to break up Hershberger's no-hitter. Wellnitz stole second, then Savannah Kaster singled. Kaster then stole second and Wellnitz scored when the throw went to second. Kaster later scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch.
Hershberger knows in a pitcher's duel each pitch becomes bigger, she said.
"After they (Black Hawk) scored those two runs, I was kind of nervous," Hershberger said. "I just had to focus. I set my mind to it that we were going to win and we did.
"I know I have a good team behind me. I know I just have to throw strikes."
Monticello answered in the fifth after freshman Des Marty walked and came around to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to give the Ponies a 3-2 victory.
Garrison knows a solid defensive game, committing no errors, is critical with Hershberger on the mound.
"With her changeup, she really kept them off balance," Garrison said.
