SUB-SECTION 3A SOFTBALL: MCC 9, TMB 4
TMB softball coach Karl Campbell isn’t unlike anyone else when it comes to looking forward to summer. Unfortunately, summer for his Panther softball team will start sooner rather than later.
A reminder of how important it is for the girls to play summer ball was part of Campbell’s end-of-the-season speech following a 9-4 loss to Murray County Central in a Sub-Section 3A quarterfinal game in Slayton.
“That’s the thing about softball and baseball, how many sports do you get beat in high school, then turn around a week later and play with your teammates, do the same thing?” Campbell said. “You put on a different uniform and away you go. So there’s that opportunity.”
True enough, but that came as little solace to the Panthers after losing to the Rebels for the second time this spring.
Unlike the first game, the Panthers got to MCC workhorse Thea Schneider, who shut them out on May 12.
Melaina Ankrum led off the game with a two-out single and scored all the way from first when Piper Freeburg reached on an error. However, MCC responded right away with a four-run bottom of the first that included a number of hard-hit line drives off TMB starter Gretchen Lanoue.
Lanoue would end up getting pulled after retiring just one batter and was replaced by Ankrum. Ironically, it was Ankrum who started in the first game between the two teams, with Lanoue relieving her early in that game and subsequently shutting MCC down the rest of the contest.
“Today, we started the opposite of that game and (Lanoue) got just one out before we made a change because it was already getting out of hand,” said Campbell. “You just never know. We’re asking two of our youngest players to be able to live in those moments.”
Schneider pitched well again with the lead, holding TMB at bay in innings two through five.
In the sixth, trailing 9-1, Ankrum against led off with a base hit and advanced on a single by Braelynn Kirk.
A wild pitch advanced the runners, and Ankrum scored on a single by Aliyah Loftness. After a strikeout, Kendra Timmerman had a big two-out hit that scored Kirk and Duscher, who also singled in the inning. Rosa Vang then lined out to short to end the rally.
TMB put two runners on in the top of the seventh with just one out — both via MCC errors — but couldn’t get any closer than the final result.
“I was happy that we didn’t lay down at 9-1 when they were one swing away from 10-running us,” Campbell said.
Ankrum finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and Timerman had a pair of hits for TMB, which finished the season with a 9-12 overall record. c“We played like a young team today in spots,” Campbell said. “Mental mistakes and some physical mistakes. We’ve just gotta learn how to minimize those, and we just haven’t been able to do that against good and aboveaverage teams. We can do that against lesser teams, but you get put under pressure when you’re up 10-0 or 13-1.”
TMB 100 003 0 — 4 8 4 MCC 400 230 x — 9 8 3 Lanoue, Ankrum and Freeburg.
SENIORS
Campbell said goodbye to the following seniors and commented on each:
Brooklyn Elsen
She had knee surgery following the girls’ basketball season prior to softball starting that was season-ending. She still traveled with team and was in dugout for most games supporting her team. She had worked her way into the lineup as a DP late last season, so it was unfortunate her bat was not available.
Katelyn Ruppert
Started all season in both right and left field. She has a strong arm and made some athletic plays during the season. She started playing softball her freshman year after a conversation in Shop 9, so she started late in today’s world of playing specific sports from a young age.
Kendra Timmerman
Also started alot of games in the corner outfield spots. She worked her way into the lineup some last season. Kendra had a good section game at the plate after working hard in the cage to make some adjustments. Senior captain. I am very appreciative of her leadership in that role this year.
Brianna Duscher
Two-year starter. Played shortstop on last year’s team. She started in center field all season her senior year. She improved immensely at the plate this season moving from the bottom of our order to the lead off position. She was always smiling and having fun.
