HEARTBREAKER
GAELS CAN’t hold on against defending champs
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For the second straight year, the St. Edmond softball team dropped a state tournament game to Clarksville.
This difference this time around, though, is the third-ranked Gaels will get a chance to fight back and see the defending Class 1A state champions again.
Clarksville moved into the driver's seat of the double-elimination bracket with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over St. Edmond here Tuesday evening at Rogers Park. The Indians (26-7 overall) will not see Farm Bureau Field again until 3 p.m. on Thursday.
The Gaels (26-10) take on quarterfinal round opponent Remsen St. Mary's (25-5) in an elimination game at 10:30 a.m. The Hawks stayed alive with a win over North Butler.
"We know what stands before us to reach our goal," SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. "I'm disappointed we lost because of the way we played. We didn't make the plays we are capable of making and have made all season long. We have to better."
St. Edmond took a 4-2 lead in the fifth when Jade Rock connected for a two-RBI single after Clarksville loaded the bases by intentionally walking Rihanna Myers. But just like they did Monday in a 15-inning victory over North Butler, the Indians rallied.
Reagan Wedeking and Kara Bohlen each had doubles in the three-run sixth, as Bohlen, Mykah Hall and Eve Jordan each plated runs.
"Toryn (Helle) pitched well enough for us to win that game," Shirbroun said. "The defense behind her did not come through. We didn't do a good enough job at the plate, either, so we have some things we need to figure out."
Jordan, the hero of the comeback vs. North Butler, finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Sydney Lovrien, the starting pitcher last year for the Indians, struck out six and worked around eight hits and three walks, as the Gaels stranded nine runners on base.
Rock was 2-for-4 with the two RBI to lead St. Edmond, as Myers scored twice with a triple. Ella Vandi and Faith Shirbroun each had runs.
In the opening round late Monday night, the Gaels earned an 8-0 win in six innings over Remsen St. Mary's. They also topped the Hawks in the regular season, 6-5.
With a win over Remsen St. Mary's, St. Edmond would need to defeat Clarksville twice on Wednesday to advance to the championship game.
CLARKSVILLE 5, ST. EDMOND 4
SE 010 030 0 – 4 8 2
C 002 003 x – 5 9 1
WP-Sydney Lovrien (7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 3 BB). LP-Toryn Helle (6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 K, 1 BB).
3B-SE: Rihanna Myers. 2B-SE: Breckyn Ulrich, Baylor Ulrich; C: Gia Hoodjer, Eve Jordan, Reagan Wedeking, Kara Bohlen. RBI-SE: Jade Rock (2); C: Eve Jordan (2), Kara Bohlen, Mykah Hall. SB-SE: Breckyn Ulrich.