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This was a test.
A test of the future softball playoff system, and Pipestone Area Schools head softball coach Robert Petersen made some adjustments to the Arrows’ batting order last Friday versus Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian.
The changes worked out, and PAS swept E/SWC by scores of 3-0 (Game One) and 13-2 (Game Two, reduced to five innings).
Petersen moved Mylee Weber into the No. 2 slot. Amyra Mahik was dropped down to the fifth spot.
Mariah Moeller was in the clean-up role, Kaitlyn Adelman eighth and Addison Draper ninth.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Addison Draper hits the ball in fair territory during a non-league softball game between the Arrows and Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian on Friday, May 16, at the Paulsen Athletic Complex. Draper was part of a juggled lineup that swept the Flying Dutch. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“Kaitlyn and Mariah had been in a slump, so it was nice to see both hit the ball better,” Petersen explained.
Both the Flying Dutchmen and the Arrows battled through brutal mid-spring conditions with temperatures in the mid-40s — and wind chills much lower than that.
“We had to be prepared for it,” Petersen noted. “You dress warm with gloves, and hats. We had to stay active and keep talking. It was a mental state. I thought we handled it well, in all facets.”
Pipestone Area’s Avery Reinhard blows on her hand as she deals with the elements during a game versus Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian on Friday, May 16. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Game One recap
In the first game, PAS jumped up top with two runs in the fifth inning. Draper scored on a Brilee Rieck sacrifice fly to Flying Dutchmen centerfielder Reese Vande Griend. Moeller pushed across Kaysa Douty on an RBI single to right field.
However, Moeller was forced out while attempting to advance to second base.
Avery Reinhard scored the Arrows’ third run — credited with stealing home per play-by-play on the GameChanger mobile application — in the sixth. Draper was the third out, lining out sharply to Liana Bloemendaal.
Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Liana Bloemendaal makes a play a third base during a non-league game versus Pipestone Area on Friday, May 16. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
In addition to hitting better, Moeller had perhaps her finest performance of the season inside the circle. She allowed just three hits in seven innings, striking out 10 and walking two in 106 pitches (64 strikes, 60.3 strike efficiency).
Addie Nibbelink tripled for E/SWC. Kami Smidt and Presley Van Dyke also collected hits. Nibbelink was forced at home attempting to tag up on Cathryn Feikema’s fly ball to Kailyn Burmeister, who sent the relay to Rieck for the out.
Van Dyke absorbed the loss, giving up three earned runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking one on 76 pitches (55 strikes, 72.4 strike efficiency).
Reinhard has settled into the centerfielder role for PAS, with Jadyn Kor sidelined. Reinhard was 2-for-3, the only player to produce multiple hits in the contest, and she stole two bases. Josie Danks, Alicia Haack and Amyra Mahik also copped steals.
Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Kya Voge swings while Pipestone Area Schools’ Brilee Rieck catches the strike. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Game Two
PAS had much less trouble in game two, racing out to a 12-0 third after three innings while E/SWC could only muster two runs in the fourth — inducing the mercy rule after five.
Kaitlyn Adelman smacked her first home run of the season, and produced a whopping six RBI while Moeller was a spotless 3-for-3 hitting with three runs scored and two RBI. Mahik also hit well, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs.
Kaysa Douty did the rest, earning the win with a pitching line composed of five innings, two earned runs, five hits, 11 strikeouts and just one walk in 75 pitches (52 strikes, 69.3 efficiency). She also doubled.
Jersey Fenicle scored the Arrows’ 13th run, and Douty then set down the Flying Dutch in order during the fifth — with Elliot Fleischman flying out to Haack ending the contest.
Kami Smidt and Liana Bloemendaal both plated runs for E/SWC on Jenna Feikema’s double. Feikema finished the game with two doubles, and Reagan Walhof also doubled. Cathryn Feikema took the loss: four innings, 13 runs (six earned), 11 hits, five walks and two strikeouts.
Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Addie Nibbelink tripled in the first game of a non-league doubleheader versus Pipestone Area on Friday, May 16. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Diamond notes
PAS (11-9) and E/SWC (13-7) were both scheduled to begin the Minnesota State High School League playoffs on Tuesday; however, subject to possible reschedule due to expected weather.
The Arrows would face the winner of a first-round game between Luverne and Redwood Valley in the second round in Section 3AA here in Pipestone — while the Flying Dutch square off with Lakeview in Section 3A at Slayton.
Defending Section 3A champion Russell-Tyler-Ruthton had the stiff challenge of playing at top-seeded Wabasso.
Section tournaments will move to the Marshall Softball Complex during the later rounds, and the state tournament is set for Caswell Park in North Mankato from Tuesday-Thursday, June 3-5. Championship games will be on Friday, June 6, at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.
A more detailed softball playoffs story may be found at the Pipestone County Star’s website: www.pipestonestar.com.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Mariah Moeller deals toward home plate during a non-league game between the Arrows and Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian on Friday, May 16. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
INFORMATION
SOFTBALL
Linescores
Friday, May 16
At Paulsen Athletic Complex
Game One
Pipestone Area 3, Edgerton/SWC 0
Score By Innings
E/SWC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 3 1
PAS 0 0 0 0 2 1 x — 3 8 2
WP: Mariah Moeller, PAS
LP: Presley Van Dyke, E/SWC
3B: Addie Nibbelink, E/SWC; no one else had an extra-base hit
Game Two
Pipestone Area 13, Edgerton/SWC 2 (5)
Score By Innings
E/SWC 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 5 5
PAS 6 4 2 1 x — 13 11 0
WP: Kaysa Douty, PAS
LP: Cathryn Feikema, E/SWC
HR: Kaitlyn Adelman, PAS (1)
2B: Amyra Mahik and Kaysa Douty, PAS; Jenna Feikema (2) and Reagan Walhof, E/SWC