94th Article at the Independent

SECTION 3A SOFTBALL: No. 4S TMB takes out No. 2N KMS, gets tripped up by No. 1N LQPV

CHRIS DRUMMOND

cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

COTTONWOOD — After keeping its season alive on Saturday, the No. 4S Tracy-Milroy-Balaton softball team wanted to keep up the momentum in the Section 3A tournament. The Panthers got a great boost with nine first-inning runs in their elimination game against No. 2N Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg on Tuesday and were able to earn a 16-8 victory. But the momentum wouldn’t last, as TMB ran into No. 1N Lac qui Parle Valley in the next round and fell 7-2 to bring an end to its season.

TMB got the offense going against KMS behind a two-run single laced down the first-base line by Hailey Gernentz to open the scoring. Teammate Margaret Dolan would come up twice in the frame and had RBI singles on both at-bat attempts. Outfielder Amber Hensch hit the first of two triples in the game and drove in two runs in the first as well, resounding in a 16-8 victory over the Fighting Saints.

TMB head coach Karl Campbell spoke on the team’s victory over KMS.

“We started really fast, nine runs in the first inning was absolutely fantastic,” Campbell said. “Played pretty good defense, pitched well and when you get a nine-run lead in the first inning, you’re going to be in great shape.”

In game two, the Eagles came out and scored two runs in the top of the first. The Panthers couldn’t get much offense going outside of starting pitcher Margaret Dolan having three hits in three at-bats and driving in a run and scoring one as well.

However, the five runs scored in a span of three innings by the Eagles was too much to overcome for the Panthers as the Eagles would go on to win 7-2, become the champion of elimination bracket and set up a rematch with Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian for the Section 3A Championship coming up on Thursday.

The Panthers’ season comes to an end and marks the final games for the three seniors on the team (Margaret Dolan, Camille Dolan and Kiarra Danielson). Campbell spoke on loss and impact of his seniors.

“The one inning killed us and we gave them too many outs,” Campbell added. “We knew runs were going to be a little stingy, you let a good pitcher get a lead and then give a team more than three outs, things go south in a hurry and that’s what happened to us. Our seniors have been the heart and soul of the team. They are fantastic players, fantastic people and we are really going to miss them.”