Lady Comanches blank Beaverettes
Shiner one step away from state tournament berth
Friday, May 16, 2008
Coy Slavik - Victoria Advocate Sports Editor
VictoriaAdvocate.com Article | Shiner Lady Comanche Softball | Return to Shiner Home Page
GOLIAD -- The Shiner Lady Comanches were too relaxed for coach Brandon Siegel’s comfort Thursday night.
Shiner's Lauren Michalec slides back safely to third base beneath the tag of Falls City third baseman Kristen Sturm during the seventh inning of Thursday night's Class 1A regional semifinal softball game in Goliad. photos by Roni Gendler, Advocate Staff Photographer
The Lady Comanches, who beat Falls City 19-0 in last year’s playoffs, jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and then rode the strong right arm of pitcher Heather Haas the rest of the way in a 5-0 Class 1A regional semifinal win over the Beaverettes.
"I think last year’s game gave them a false sense of security," Siegel said of the Lady Comanches (21-6), who will play the winner of today’s regional semifinal between Woodsboro and Thorndale next week for a berth to the state tournament. "Heather had a great game on the mound. Now we just need some offense to go with her."
Morgan Ullman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run single that highlighted Shiner’s three-run first inning.
Haas, who struck out 12 and walked just one en route to throwing a three-hitter, didn’t allow a Falls City base runner past second base the entire game. She threw 100 pitches, including 78 for strikes.
Despite her dominance, Haas wasn’t pleased with the outcome.
"We weren’t expecting the score to be this close," Haas said. "We just didn’t come out ready to play."
Shiner coach Brandon Siegel congratulates pitcher Heather Haas after Haas shut out the Falls City Beaverettes 5-0 in their Class 1A regional semifinal softball game Thursday night.
Shiner, which is seeking its third straight trip to the state tournament, gave Haas all the run support she needed in the first. Lauren Michalec drew a base on balls, stole second and scored on Taylor Hajek’s single to put the Lady Comanches up 1-0. After Haas was hit in the back by an Amanda Pruski pitch, Ullman drove Hajek and Haas home with a two-out single.
Amber Shimek and Ullmann each added two-out, run-scoring singles to account for Shiner’s other runs.
The Lady Comanches had nine hits in the game, but stranded eight runners on base.
"We needed everything we could get tonight," Ullmann said. "We came into this game thinking it was going to be a whole lot easier than it was. But the important thing is we still won and we have a chance to do better next week."
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