ARGYLE - Junior Natalie Romdenne has been pitching since middle school. She always looks forward to coming through with a strikeout in a big situation.
Romdenne came through in the clutch Monday, tossing a three-hit shutout to propel Argyle to a 1-0 win over Monticello in a pitchers' duel.
"It feels relieving and really good," Romdenne said. "I love the feeling when you strike someone out. It feels like you have accomplished something."
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Argyle junior Jadyn Saalsaa reached on an error. Argyle senior Brianne Connors then beat out an infield single to score Saalsaa to give the Orioles an early 1-0 lead. Romdenne made the one-run lead stand up.
"I think she was focused," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said of Romdenne. "She got her job done and let her fielders play."
Monticello sophomore Miah Brokopp also had a solid pitching performance. She pitched a complete game and gave up just one unearned run on four hits.
"We had one error and that is what cost us," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "I tell Miah to let them put the ball in play. We are usually a decent defensive team. We just couldn't hit today. If we can't score more than one run than we don't deserve to win that game."
Argyle junior Alysabeth Lantz was on base all three times she batted going 2-for-2 with one walk. Connors was also on base all three times she batted going 1-for-1 with two walks.
"I think we learned to bat more," Romdenne said. "Normally we do one thing good whether it's fielding or batting. Tonight we did fielding great."
Both teams turned in some dazzling defensive plays. Brokopp pitched out of a couple of jams thanks to her defense. The Orioles (1-7, 1-6 Six Rivers East) had the bases loaded with no outs in the second. Argyle senior Morgan Nelson hit a line drive up the middle that Monticello freshman infielder Alexa Siegenthaler made a diving catch on and turned into a double play at second base. Brokopp then got junior Kirsten Ostby to pop out to end the threat without giving up a run.
In the sixth, Brokopp walked the bases loaded. The Orioles again had a golden scoring opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs, but couldn't push across a run. Monticello sophomore third baseman Sierra Krueger caught a line drive and stepped on third for a critical double play. Brokopp then struck out Argyle's Paige Soper to get out of the jam.
"It was very big," Brokopp said. "My defense definitely boosted my confidence during this game. "I feel like this was definitely one of our best performances out of our five games so far. Hopefully, we can progress from this."
Ostby, who plays shortstop for Argyle, had a perfect relay throw to third base to throw out junior Hannah Zanow following a single by freshman McKenna Pfeuti in the first to end the inning. Ostby also turned an unassisted 6-3 double play in the fifth.
Pfeuti went 2-for-2 to lead the Ponies at the plate.
"This is probably the best game we have played so far," Ganshert said.
Romdenne came through in the clutch Monday, tossing a three-hit shutout to propel Argyle to a 1-0 win over Monticello in a pitchers' duel.
"It feels relieving and really good," Romdenne said. "I love the feeling when you strike someone out. It feels like you have accomplished something."
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Argyle junior Jadyn Saalsaa reached on an error. Argyle senior Brianne Connors then beat out an infield single to score Saalsaa to give the Orioles an early 1-0 lead. Romdenne made the one-run lead stand up.
"I think she was focused," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said of Romdenne. "She got her job done and let her fielders play."
Monticello sophomore Miah Brokopp also had a solid pitching performance. She pitched a complete game and gave up just one unearned run on four hits.
"We had one error and that is what cost us," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "I tell Miah to let them put the ball in play. We are usually a decent defensive team. We just couldn't hit today. If we can't score more than one run than we don't deserve to win that game."
Argyle junior Alysabeth Lantz was on base all three times she batted going 2-for-2 with one walk. Connors was also on base all three times she batted going 1-for-1 with two walks.
"I think we learned to bat more," Romdenne said. "Normally we do one thing good whether it's fielding or batting. Tonight we did fielding great."
Both teams turned in some dazzling defensive plays. Brokopp pitched out of a couple of jams thanks to her defense. The Orioles (1-7, 1-6 Six Rivers East) had the bases loaded with no outs in the second. Argyle senior Morgan Nelson hit a line drive up the middle that Monticello freshman infielder Alexa Siegenthaler made a diving catch on and turned into a double play at second base. Brokopp then got junior Kirsten Ostby to pop out to end the threat without giving up a run.
In the sixth, Brokopp walked the bases loaded. The Orioles again had a golden scoring opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs, but couldn't push across a run. Monticello sophomore third baseman Sierra Krueger caught a line drive and stepped on third for a critical double play. Brokopp then struck out Argyle's Paige Soper to get out of the jam.
"It was very big," Brokopp said. "My defense definitely boosted my confidence during this game. "I feel like this was definitely one of our best performances out of our five games so far. Hopefully, we can progress from this."
Ostby, who plays shortstop for Argyle, had a perfect relay throw to third base to throw out junior Hannah Zanow following a single by freshman McKenna Pfeuti in the first to end the inning. Ostby also turned an unassisted 6-3 double play in the fifth.
Pfeuti went 2-for-2 to lead the Ponies at the plate.
"This is probably the best game we have played so far," Ganshert said.
