MONTICELLO - Mary Hershberger gave her battery mate the best gift a Monticello softball player could offer her close friend - the right to play softball in the WIAA Division 4 sectionals for the first time in school history.
While senior MacKenzie Hilliard was outstanding as usual behind the dish Thursday evening, she struggled at the plate, going a rare 0-for-4. But Hershberger, hitting right behind "Mac" in the cleanup spot, more than picked up the slack in an 8-2 regional championshp victory over Argyle.
The Ponies' ace first made Orioles freshman Kelsey Bartels pay for the three walks she issued to the first four hitters in the third inning. The slugging pitcher inside-outed a double to right field. As the rainbow two-bagger narrowly outran right fielder Sierra Granberg, the bases cleared.
"She wants that big hit, not for herself, but to help the team," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "She's in that cleanup spot for a reason. She just hit the hell out of the ball."
After Hilliard lined out to shorstop in the next inning, Hershberger picked up her fourth and fifth steaks as she fought a face-high fastball for a hit to center field. Senior third baseman Kelly Anderson followed with another two-run hit two batters later as she sprayed a Texas League single down the right-field line that made the lead 8-1.
Hilliard helped her first-year ace settle in after Argyle threatened in the second and third innings and even took a 1-0 lead in third on a sacrifice fly by Kelsey Ostby. The second-inning threat was silenced as MacKenzie's sophomore sister, Sadi, ranged to her left on a well-stung grounder from Chelsea Zersen. The shorstop used her tummy as much as her glove to get the tough out with runners at second and third.
"Our defense was just so focused," Hershberger said.
Hershberger and Hilliard locked in, only allowing one hit over the fourth through sixth innings by going right after the top hitters.
"We focused on fastballs to their top hitters to take their power away," Hershberger said.
And there was no hesitation whenever her favorite target put down the old number one.
"MacKenzie is just a really good person and I have so much trust in her," Hershberger said.
Hershberger had three of her team's five hits and struck out four, while walking just three. Bartels fanned six but walked nine, and senior Brittany Flannery had two hits for Argyle, including an RBI-double in the fifth that drove in classmate and catcher Kelli Fischer.
Bartels showed grit beyond her freshman years when she took a line drive from the bat of Alisa Klassy off her right collarbone in the first inning, but retired the next six batters she faced.
"She has a heart of gold and I knew there was no way she wasn't going to go back out there," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said.
The ballgame ended in equally-jarring fashion when Sadi Hilliard snared a Tina Dammen line drive and threw to a stretching Olivia Doyle to end the game with a double-off of Amber Thomas at first.
"I don't think everyone knew the game was over," Garrison said with a laugh.
"I didn't have to tell Sadi how to position herself; she was just there and that sort of thing has started happening more and more," Garrison gushed.
The Ponies' six-year skipper grew up in Argyle and, after starting the season with Doyle as his only infielder with significant varsity experience, still can't believe his team earned its first sectional berth in the program's eight-year history.
"We weren't supposed to be here," Garrison said. "Maybe our girls had a little chip on their shoulder. I may be biased, but it's amazing to think how far they've come."
Burlington Catholic Central will make the haul to Verona to meet the Ponies in the sectional semifinals next Thursday.
While senior MacKenzie Hilliard was outstanding as usual behind the dish Thursday evening, she struggled at the plate, going a rare 0-for-4. But Hershberger, hitting right behind "Mac" in the cleanup spot, more than picked up the slack in an 8-2 regional championshp victory over Argyle.
The Ponies' ace first made Orioles freshman Kelsey Bartels pay for the three walks she issued to the first four hitters in the third inning. The slugging pitcher inside-outed a double to right field. As the rainbow two-bagger narrowly outran right fielder Sierra Granberg, the bases cleared.
"She wants that big hit, not for herself, but to help the team," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "She's in that cleanup spot for a reason. She just hit the hell out of the ball."
After Hilliard lined out to shorstop in the next inning, Hershberger picked up her fourth and fifth steaks as she fought a face-high fastball for a hit to center field. Senior third baseman Kelly Anderson followed with another two-run hit two batters later as she sprayed a Texas League single down the right-field line that made the lead 8-1.
Hilliard helped her first-year ace settle in after Argyle threatened in the second and third innings and even took a 1-0 lead in third on a sacrifice fly by Kelsey Ostby. The second-inning threat was silenced as MacKenzie's sophomore sister, Sadi, ranged to her left on a well-stung grounder from Chelsea Zersen. The shorstop used her tummy as much as her glove to get the tough out with runners at second and third.
"Our defense was just so focused," Hershberger said.
Hershberger and Hilliard locked in, only allowing one hit over the fourth through sixth innings by going right after the top hitters.
"We focused on fastballs to their top hitters to take their power away," Hershberger said.
And there was no hesitation whenever her favorite target put down the old number one.
"MacKenzie is just a really good person and I have so much trust in her," Hershberger said.
Hershberger had three of her team's five hits and struck out four, while walking just three. Bartels fanned six but walked nine, and senior Brittany Flannery had two hits for Argyle, including an RBI-double in the fifth that drove in classmate and catcher Kelli Fischer.
Bartels showed grit beyond her freshman years when she took a line drive from the bat of Alisa Klassy off her right collarbone in the first inning, but retired the next six batters she faced.
"She has a heart of gold and I knew there was no way she wasn't going to go back out there," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said.
The ballgame ended in equally-jarring fashion when Sadi Hilliard snared a Tina Dammen line drive and threw to a stretching Olivia Doyle to end the game with a double-off of Amber Thomas at first.
"I don't think everyone knew the game was over," Garrison said with a laugh.
"I didn't have to tell Sadi how to position herself; she was just there and that sort of thing has started happening more and more," Garrison gushed.
The Ponies' six-year skipper grew up in Argyle and, after starting the season with Doyle as his only infielder with significant varsity experience, still can't believe his team earned its first sectional berth in the program's eight-year history.
"We weren't supposed to be here," Garrison said. "Maybe our girls had a little chip on their shoulder. I may be biased, but it's amazing to think how far they've come."
Burlington Catholic Central will make the haul to Verona to meet the Ponies in the sectional semifinals next Thursday.
