MINOT, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Hi-Liners scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning a never looked back in a 12-9 win over Bismarck Century in the 3rd Place Game at the 2019 State Softball Tournament at South Hill Complex in Minot.
Patriot starting pitcher Maddy Zander did not retire a batter until the third out of the inning. The first two outs were force outs. In the inning, Jessie Undem, Grace Scherr and Eliza Johnson had rbi singles. Emma Mielke was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run and Erin Anderson walked with the bases loaded for another. Scherr scored the first run of the game whe she stole home as part of a double steal with Eliza Johnson.
Century started the scoring in the top of the first with two runs coming in on Miah Rauhauser’s single. Rauhauser would drive in another run in the third to make it 6-3.
Valley City would regain the four run lead on Scherr’s rbi single in the fifth. The would get much needed insurance in the bottom of the sixth when they added five runs. Scherr would drive in a run with a single. Jessie Undem was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run. An Sam Ranisate would walk with the bases loaded for another. Another run came in or the error. The Hi-Liners would need all of the insurance and more as as they held a 12-4 lead going in to the seventh when Century scored five runs in the inning to make things interesting.
Maddy Zander was the tying run at the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh. Zander already had three doubles against Schaefer. But this time Schaefer got her to hit one on the ground up the middle. Schaefer slowed it down, Lexi Leroux grabbed it, her underhand toss was briefly mis-played but Eliza Johnson recovered and stepped on the bag for the force to end the game.
Scherr capped a fantastic tournament going 5 for 5 with a run and three rbi. She also stole five bases. For the tournament, the senior was 12 for 14 with a walk, five runs scored, six rbi and 10 stolen bases. Needless to say she was named to the All-Tournament Team as was Hailey Schaefer. The sophomore was 5 for 13 for the tournament with a run and three rbi. She also picked up two wins in the circle and in 20 2/3 innings she struck out 34 batters.
After the tough walk off loss to Bismarck in the semifinals the night before, Head Coach Hiary Flatt was proud of the way they responded in the first inning.
Flatt says this team worked for everything they got this year.
Valley City ended the season 18-8. With the end of the season, comes the end of the careers of the seniors. Grac Scherr, Erin Anderson, Sam Ranisate, Eliza Schueneman, Eliza Johnson and Becca Thomspon played their last game in a Hi-Liner uniform.
Coach Flatt says these players mean a lot to her and the team.
Saturday’s Scores
Consolation Championship – Dickinson 5, Minot 3
Third Place – Valley City 12, Bismarck Bismarck Century 9
Championship – West Fargo 8, Bismarck 6 (Packers 10th title in 11 years as a sanctioned sport and 21st overall)
