High
School
Softball
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2007
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
ALL STATE SELECTEES!
Published Friday | October
26, 2007
W-H softball honors teams
All-Nebraska
First Team
P - Ashley Hagemann, Elkhorn Sr. 25-1
P - Kylie Hovinga, Papillion-La Vista Sr. 26-4
P - Alexa Mackevicius, Papillion-LV South Sr.
25-2
C - Lauren Larson, Millard North Sr. .386
IF - Nicole Haget, Elkhorn Sr. .550
IF - Mariah Montgomery, Ralston Jr. .416
IF - Jamie Gay, Beatrice Sr. .495
IF - Molly Feichtinger, Om. Marian Sr. .451
OF - Devon Reick, Ralston Jr. .469
OF - Molly Negrete, Millard South Jr. .409
OF - Lindsay Redding, Papillion-La Vista Jr.
.339
DP - Megan Southworth, Papillion-La Vista Jr.
.464
DP - Madison Drake, Lincoln Southwest Sr. .417
• Honorary Captain - Ashley Hagemann,
Elkhorn
Second Team
P - Mallory Johnsen, Beatrice Sr. 22-7
P - Ashley Dunn, Lincoln Southwest Jr. 13-5
P - Kelsie Novotny, Millard North Jr. 16-11
C - Liz Hullinger, Elkhorn Sr. .536
IF -
Krista Steen, Papillion-LV South Sr. .381
IF - Shelly Martin, Om. Westside Sr. .441
IF - Amanda Neumann, Papillion-La Vista Jr. .368
IF - Alyssa Kirsch, Papillion-LV South Sr. .366
OF - Dani Bryant, Lincoln Southwest Sr. .434
OF - Emily Perry, Papillion-LV South Jr. .348
OF - Rachel Plessing, Blair Sr. .463
DP - Amy Monson, Papillion-La Vista Sr. .373
DP - Amy Baker, Om. Westside Jr. .433
Class A
First Team
P - Kylie Hovinga, Papillion-La Vista Sr. 26-4
P - Alexa Mackevicius, Papillion-LV South Sr.
25-2
P - Ashley Dunn, Lincoln Southwest Jr. 13-5
C - Lauren Larson, Millard North Sr. .386
IF - Molly Feichtinger, Om. Marian Sr. .451
IF - Madison Drake, Lincoln Southwest Sr. .417
IF -
Krista Steen, Papillion-LV South Sr. .381
IF - Shelly Martin, Om. Westside Sr. .441
OF - Molly Negrete, Millard South Jr. .409
OF - Lindsay Redding, Papillion-La Vista Jr.
.339
OF - Dani Bryant, Lincoln Southwest Sr. .434
DP - Megan Southworth, Papillion-La Vista Jr.
.464
DP - Emily Perry, Papillion-LV South Jr. .348
• Honorary Captain - Kylie Hovinga,
Papillion-La Vista
Second Team
P - Kelsie Novotny, Millard North Jr. 16-11
P - Shelby Mendlik, Om. Marian So. 12-4
C - Amy Baker, Om. Westside Jr. .433
IF - Amanda Neumann, Papillion-La Vista Jr. .368
IF - Alyssa Kirsch, Papillion-LV South Sr. .366
IF - Amy Monson, Papillion-La Vista Sr. .373
IF - Jennifer Bohle, Om. Westside Sr. .349
OF - Kassie Nurton, Om. Marian Jr. .402
OF - Jennifer Brown, Millard North Jr. .356
OF - Jami Thramer, Millard South Sr. .367
DP - Amanda Forgey, Lincoln East Sr. .476
DP - Becky Seidel, Columbus Sr. .420
DP - Kayla Kowalski, Millard South Sr. .355
• Class A honorable mention: Bellevue
East: Makenzie Michael. Bellevue West: Erica
McCoy, Morgan Brazeal. Columbus: Ashley Szelag,
Mollie Jones, Jaisa Gutierrez. Fremont: Vicki
Nielsen, Annie Hoesing, Jessica Spalding. Grand
Island: Mackenzie Tomlin, Gabby Ayala. Kearney:
Emily Girard. Lincoln East: Jamie Zillig,
Katelyn Peterson, Katlyn Raatz. Lincoln High:
Katie Martin. Lincoln North Star: Lindsey Cale,
Page Policky, Jamie Peterson. Lincoln Southeast:
Sarah Hoehne, Matley Jones, Courtney Gau, KK
Houser. Lincoln Southwest: Jackie Nordell, Becca
Changstrom, Ashley Janssen. Millard North:
Danielle Christianson. Millard South: Jordan
King, Kathy Curtis, Alyssa Kilgore. Millard
West: Christine Borowiak. North Platte: Jennifer
Kramer, Kelsey Coffman. Omaha Benson: Jessica
Gabrie. Omaha Burke: Sarah Gamache, Emily
Heairet, KayCee Miller. Omaha Marian: Danii
Sandel. Omaha North: Kylee Polsley, Grace Rich.
Omaha Westside: Christa Ruf, Claire Friesen,
Sarah Scigo. Papillion-La Vista: Kaylee
Richards, Marlee Petersen. Papillion-La Vista
South: Chelse Koca, Becky Dunn.
Class B
First Team
P - Ashley Hagemann, Elkhorn Sr. 25-1
P - Mallory Johnsen, Beatrice Sr. 22-7
P - Gina Mackevicius, Om. Skutt Sr. 20-12
C - Liz Hullinger, Elkhorn Sr. .536
IF - Nicole Haget, Elkhorn Sr. .550
IF - Mariah Montgomery, Ralston Jr. .416
IF - Jamie Gay, Beatrice Sr. .495
IF - Jessica Einspahr, McCook Sr. .360
OF - Devon Reick, Ralston Jr. .469
OF - Rachel Plessing, Blair Sr. .463
OF - Leslie Neiman, Elkhorn Sr. .390
DP - Cassie Baete-Jobman, Beatrice Sr. .418
DP - Amy
Dreessen, Elkhorn Jr. .536
• Honorary Captain - Ashley Hagemann,
Elkhorn
Second Team
P - Kirstie Hiatt, McCook Sr. 14-4
P - Mackenzie Welchert, Blair So. 20-7
P - Nicole Sempek, Columbus Lakeview Sr. 16-4
C - Devin Choate, Beatrice Sr. .402
IF - Tina Winter, Ralston Jr. .350
IF - Amanda Teshack, Ralston Sr. .393
IF - Amanda Einspahr, McCook Fr. .385
IF - Sarah Rome, Blair So. .486
OF - Emily Dittmer, Crete Sr. .449
OF - Ellen Homan, Om. Skutt So. .326
OF - Melanie Patrick, Hastings Sr. .383
DP - Austin Wilson, McCook Sr. .400
DP -
Brooke Cronican, Ralston Sr. .359
• Class B honorable mention: Blair: Katie
Pawol, Maggie Warrick, Taylor Fernau. Chadron:
Nikki Ritzen, Trina Kuhnel, Brooke Grant.
Columbus Lakeview: Dani Went, Jenna Alswager,
Brooke Groteluschen. Conestoga/Weeping Water:
Arie Thorne, Rebekka Hammer. Cozad: Brittany
Hunke. Crete: Becca Havlat, Terra Smith, Amanda
Tretheway. David City: Brittany Karber. Elkhorn:
Brittany
Hoock, Megan Borcher. Falls City: Kayla
Fritz. Fairbury: Kenzie Helmink. Grand Island
NW: Mikaela Klein, Tristian Birch, Kelly Olsufka.
Gering: Chelsey Richter. Gretna: Tami LeMaster.
Hastings: Kyndell Princ, Angelica Bishop.
Hastings Adams Central: Katie Bonifas. Holdrege:
Aubri Townsend. Lexington: Allison Seberger.
Lincoln Pius X: Jamie Reed, Steph Webb, Lauren
Bodfield. McCook: Marissa Wallace, Danae
McCorkle. Nebraska City: Krisa Tyson. Omaha
Duchesne: Taylor Bridges. Omaha Gross: Rachel
Dukich. Omaha Mercy: Katie Malloy. Omaha Skutt:
Emily Banghart. Plattsmouth: Kasey Maddux.
Ralston: Megan Wagman. Scottsbluff: Hailee
Wilson, DeNae Quijas. Seward: Brittany Telecky,
Heather Post. Waverly: Amanda Beeson, Taylor
Flodman.
Class C
First Team
P - Traci Aschoff, Milford Sr. 22-4
P - Bethany Davison, O'Neill Sr. 22-6
P - Shannon Jarvi, Wayne So. 20-3
C - Sarah Weber, Milford Jr. .373
IF - Leigh Gramke, Tekamah-Herman Sr. .429
IF - Kim Sladek, Fill. Cent./E-M Sr. .489
IF - Taylor Cameron, Syracuse Sr. .376
IF - Kiley Ruff, Bennington Sr. .359
OF - Cherilynn Lund, Tekamah-Herman Sr. .424
OF - Morgan Kleinschmidt, Fill. Cent./E-M Sr.
.330
OF - Brooke Sass, Bennington Fr. .367
DP - Nicole Rauner, Wayne Jr. .436
DP - Danielle Mowinkel, Logan View Sr. .368
• Honorary Captain - Traci Aschoff,
Milford
Second Team
P - Lyndsay Drumm, Bennington Sr. 14-3
P - Cara Cameron, Tekamah-Herman Jr. 16-7
P - Alyssa Kreikemeier, West Point CC Sr. 17-8
C -
Allie Frost, Douglas County West Sr. .422
(ALLIE was First Team in
Lincoln Paper)
IF - Jaci Mowinkel, West Point CC Sr. .341
IF - Kate Erickson, Central City Jr. .517
IF - Natalie Jeppeson, Milford Sr. .350
IF - Haley Strobel, High Plains Jr. .459
OF - Brittany Asche, Wahoo Sr. .406
OF - Justine Dethlefs, St. Paul Sr. .576
DP - Samantha Stonys, Bennington Jr. .374
DP - Kasey Romohr, Centennial Jr. .327
DP - Elli Spaulding, Syracuse Sr. .412
• Class C honorable mention: Arlington:
Sydney Hein, Becca Goodwin. Ashland-Greenwood:
Lexie Martin, Sarah Kwiatkowski. Auburn:
Mackenzie Gerdes, Courtney DeBuhr. Battle
Creek/Elkhorn Valley: Beth Schmidt, Katie Geary.
Centennial: Kerra Grantski. Central City: Amy
Mesner. Tabitha Russell. Chase County: Tabitha
Russell, Ali Titus. Cross County: Melanie Baker,
Megan Brooke. Douglas County West: Taylor
Dunker. Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan: Maddy
Emshoff. Friend: Krista Menke. Gothenburg:
Brooke Ballmer, Breanne Messersmith, Vanessa
Linegar. High Plains Community: Ashley Fleming.
Logan View: Kristin Ristau. Milford: Allison
Brandt. North Bend Central/Scribner-Snyder:
Lindsey Hull, Megan Jensen. St. Paul: Sarah
Rasmussen. Southern: Danae Disney. Syracuse:
Kelly Neels. Tekamah-Herman: Chelsea Maslowsky,
Lisa Maslowsky, Erin Krause. Thayer Central:
Melissa Bulin, Becky Wiedel. Twin River: Tanya
Snyder, Kayla Mohr. Wahoo: Kelsey Loos, Kali
Pfeiffer. Wahoo Neumann: Riley Jelinek. Wayne:
Alesha FinkeyRiley Hofart, Amanda Pieper. West
Point Central Catholic: Chelsea Franzluebbers.
Wilber-Clatonia: Lacey Hyde. Yutan-Mead: Kaylea
Kult, Amanda Hart, Shelbi Fisher.
All-Metro Conference
P - Kylie Hovinga, Papillion-La Vista Sr. 26-4
P - Alexa Mackevicius, Papillion-LV South Sr.
25-2
P - Kelsie Novotny, Millard North Jr. 16-11
C - Lauren Larson, Millard North Sr. .386
IF - Molly Feichtinger, Om. Marian Sr. .451
IF -
Krista Steen, Papillion-LV South Sr. .381
IF - Shelly Martin, Om. Westside Sr. .441
IF - Amanda Neumann, Papillion-La Vista Jr. .368
OF - Molly Negrete, Millard South Jr. .409
OF - Lindsay Redding, Papillion-La Vista Jr.
.339
OF - Emily Perry, Papillion-LV South Jr. .348
DP - Megan Southworth, Papillion-La Vista Jr.
.464
DP - Amy Baker, Om. Westside Jr. .433
• Honorary Captain - Kylie Hovinga,
Papillion-La Vista
All-Omaha Area
P - Ashley Hagemann, Elkhorn Sr. 25-1
P - Gina Mackevicius, Om. Skutt Sr. 20-12
P - Mackenzie Welchert, Blair So. 20-7
C - Liz Hullinger, Elkhorn Sr. .536
IF - Nicole Haget, Elkhorn Sr. .550
IF - Mariah Montgomery, Ralston Jr. .416
IF - Amy
Dreessen, Elkhorn Jr. .536
IF - Tina Winter, Ralston Jr. .350
OF - Devon Reick, Ralston Jr. .469
OF - Rachel Plessing, Blair Sr. .463
OF - Leslie Neiman, Elkhorn Sr. .390
DP - Amanda Teshack, Ralston Sr. .393
DP - Sarah Rome, Blair So. .486
• Honorary captain - Ashley Hagemann,
Elkhorn
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CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITTANY HOOCK AND
AMY DREESEN
THE
ELKHORN ANTLERS ARE
CLASS B STATE CHAMPIONS !!!
Published
Saturday | October 13, 2007
Class B: Antlers rally for
state title
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Beatrice third baseman Jamie Gay hit a first
inning home run to left-center field off Elkhorn
pitcher and Nebraska recruit Ashley Hagemann
that gave the Lady Orange a 1-0 lead at the
Smith Softball Complex.
Antlers coach Terry Graver said his top-ranked
team had trailed "maybe two or three times all
year" prior to the title game. For the coach in
the third base box it was a little scary, but
for his three-year ace on the mound, it was a
challenge.
"We weren't scared," Hagemann said. "We just had
to go out and work a little harder."
Hagemann did her part with a home run to left
field in the bottom of the fourth that tied the
game 1-1. The Lady Orange regained that lead in
the top of the fifth when center fielder Jina
Hamm led off with a single and scored on a
sacrifice by Kylie Bartholomew.
This time the Antlers didn't wait as long. They
scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth on
RBI singles by catcher Liz Hullinger and first
baseman
Amy Dreessen.
Hagemann then got the final four of her 12
strikeouts in the last two innings to
successfully end a season that produced Class B
records for best record (30-1), most consecutive
state championships (four) and strikeouts in a
career by Hagemann (1,087).
"All of that will mean something someday,"
Graver said. "We're just pleased we were able to
win because Ralston has that tradition, Blair is
a good young team and Beatrice is always
Beatrice."
The Antlers earned their spot in the title game
with a 2-0 victory over Beatrice Friday morning.
The Lady Orange needed eight innings to defeat
Ralston 5-2 for the other championship berth.
Hamm hit a solo home run with two outs in the
top of the seventh against the Rams to force the
extra inning. Ralston advanced to that game
after polishing off Blair 8-0 in 5 innings.
The third-ranked Rams scored five runs in the
first inning and opened the game with
back-to-back doubles by Devon Reick and Amanda
Teshack before shortstop Mariah Montgomery drove
them in with a three-run home run.
Beatrice coach Dennis Dodge also knew every game
in the balanced Class B tournament would be a
challenge. Though his team came up one run short
of forcing a second game, he was pleased with
the way his 29-7 team progressed through both
the season and tournament.
"We wanted to leave it all on the field," Dodge
said. "Jamie set the tone with the home run
right off the bat. The girls got a second wind
after that win over Ralston and mentally they
were prepared, but physically they had tired
feet."
Beatrice (29-7).........................100
010 0—2 3 0
Elkhorn (30-1).........................000
120 x—3 7 0
• At Smith Softball Complex
• W: Ashley Hagemann (25-1). L: Mallory Johnsen
(22-7). 2B: E, Steph Reynolds. HR: B, Jamie Gay;
E: Ashley Hagemann
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Published
Thursday | October 11, 2007
State Softball: Beatrice
wins, awaits Elkhorn
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
HASTINGS, Neb. — Memories of an unusually early
exit from last year's Class B state softball
tournament helped Beatrice remain undefeated
Thursday through the first two rounds of the
2007 tourney.
After brushing aside host Hastings with a 10-0,
four-inning victory in the first round at the
Smith Softball Complex, the Lady Orange beat
Blair 1-0 behind Mallory Johnsen's three-hit,
seven-strikeout performance and Morgan Eskra's
fourth-inning single that drove home Jamie Gay.
Blair had knocked off Beatrice 10-1 in the
second round to eliminate the Lady Orange after
the first day of last year's state tournament.
Not since 1999 had the Lady Orange been sent
home from state that early.
"Blair's a solid team, but the girls were really
fired up to play them," said Beatrice coach
Dennis Dodge, whose team improved to 28-5. "They
knocked us out last year, and (our players)
wanted to get revenge."
The win set the No. 2-ranked Lady Orange up for
a noon winners bracket game today against
three-time defending champion and top-ranked
Elkhorn. The Antlers improved to 28-1 with a
10-1, six-inning win over unranked Gretna before
a 3-1 victory over No. 3 Ralston.
Ralston and Blair kept their championship hopes
alive by winning elimination games Thursday
evening and will play today at noon. The Rams
defeated McCook 6-0 and Blair edged Seward 3-2.
Today's Elkhorn-Beatrice battle is a rematch of
a Sept. 8 game in which Elkhorn rallied for a
2-1 win in the Columbus Invitational.
"We led most of the game, but Elkhorn came back
at the end," Dodge said. "The girls are
confident they can play with them."
Not many teams have been able to hang with the
Antlers this season. Nebraska recruits Nikki
Haget and Ashley Hagemann led the way in both
games Thursday. Haget had three hits and scored
three runs in the win over Gretna, while
Hagemann had nine strikeouts.
Hagemann then kept Ralston's potent lineup in
check with 15 strikeouts to raise her career
total to a Class B record 1,061, and
Brittany
Hoock provided the offense with a two-run
home run in the second inning.
"Ralston did a great job coming back against
Seward, and then we played a typical
Ralston-Elkhorn game," Antlers coach Terry
Graver said. "Every out, every pitch, every base
runner means something when we play them."
Ralston was down to its final out against Seward
before two Rams reached on walks. Junior center
fielder Devon Reick and senior second baseman
Amanda Teshack followed with RBI singles that
gave the Rams a 7-6 victory.
"I told the girls a sign of a good team is one
that can fight to win even with two outs,"
Ralston coach Mike Smith said. "We didn't play
great, but they fought and it worked out."
In other games:
• Beatrice 10, Hastings 0, 4 innings:
Cassie Baete-Johnson and Devin Choate both
homered for Beatrice.
• Blair 3, McCook 1: Rachel Plessing was
2 for 3 for the Bears and Marissa Wallace hit a
seventh-inning home run for McCook to prevent
the shutout.
• Seward 3, Gretna 0: Brittany Telecky
threw a one-hitter with nine strikeouts as the
Bluejays eliminated the Dragons.
• McCook 7, Hastings 1: Kirstie Hiatt had
15 strikeouts for the Bison and the Tigers
committed six errors after four miscues in their
loss to Beatrice.
• Ralston 6, McCook 0: Winning pitcher
Brooke
Cronican and Devon Reick both had
doubles, and
Cronican
scattered three hits for the 25-7 Rams.
• Blair 3, Seward 2: The Bears scored all
of their runs in the top of the sixth before
Seward's Hailey Behlen broke up Mackenzie
Welchert's no-hitter with a two-run home run.
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Published Tuesday | October
9, 2007
Nebraska state tournament
capsules
CLASS A
• Papillion-La Vista South: 4th state
appearance
• Coach: Dan Hogan
• Record, W-H rating: 34-1, 1st
• Leading hitters:
Krista
Steen, .413; Alyssa Kirsch, .360; Emily
Perry, .356; Alexa Mackevicius, .347; Chelse
Koca, .317
• Leading pitchers: Alexa Mackevicius,
23-0, 0.45 ERA; Rebecca Dunn, 11-1, 0.78 ERA
CLASS B
• Elkhorn: 10th state appearance
(champion 2004, 2005, 2006; runner-up 2000,
2001)
• Coach: Terry Graver
• Record, W-H rating: 26-1, 1st
• Leading hitters: Ashley Hagemann, .534,
Nikki Haget, .534,
Amy
Dreessen, .494, Liz Hullinger, .386, Erin
Hullinger, .341
• Leading pitcher: Ashley Hagemann, 21-1,
0.31 ERA
• Ralston: 13th appearance (champion
1997, 1998, 1999); runner-up 1995 (Class A,
2003, 2006)
• Coach: Mike Smith
• Record, W-H rating: 23-6, 3rd
• Leading hitters: Devon Reick, .484;
Mariah Montgomery, .425; Christina Winter, .402;
Brooke
Cronican, .394; Amanda Teshack, .371
• Leading pitchers:
Brooke
Cronican, 15-6, 1.82 ERA; Megan Wagman,
8-0, 1.66 ERA
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Published
Wednesday | October 10, 2007
Nebraska Softball Tourney:
Veterans hope to carry Elkhorn to a fourth straight
title
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
HASTINGS, Neb. — The Elkhorn Antlers are proving
to be elusive targets again.
The Antlers will enter the Class B state
softball tournament Thursday chasing an
unprecedented fourth straight crown. Only the
Ralston teams from 1997 through 1999 can match
Elkhorn's run of success.
The 26-1 Antlers, who will play Eastern Midlands
Conference rival Gretna in a 10 a.m. first-round
game at the Smith Softball Complex, also have
their sights set on becoming the first Class B
team to finish a season with one loss.
It was Ralston, a potential second-round
opponent Thursday, that tripped Elkhorn in the
2006 championship round to force a second game
that the Antlers won 8-3 for the third state
title. Those last two games left Elkhorn with a
30-2 record, the best mark for a Class B school.
The Elkhorn T-shirts this year say "Fear the
Deer."
Antlers coach Terry Graver said his players
understand that while opponents may respect what
Elkhorn has accomplished, the Antlers' foes want
to spoil their run at history.
"These kids have been through it the last three
years, so they're used to it," Graver said.
"Since we won that first one, we've been rated
No. 1 in the entire state off and on, so I guess
that gives people something more to shoot at."
Instead of that being viewed as a barrier to
success, Graver said, it has brought out the
best in a group of players led by junior
Amy
Dreessen and seniors Ashley Hagemann,
Nikki Haget, Liz Hullinger and Leslie Neiman.
"That's the way it is at Elkhorn right now,"
Graver said. "People are always trying to get
you, and you just have to play that much harder.
They know this is going to be a tough
tournament, but they've been focused all year on
their high school season because so many of them
realize it's their last."
The Triple H set of seniors — Hagemann, Haget
and Hullinger — have been the core of Elkhorn's
success since 2005 with a record of 87-7 (.926
winning percentage). Add in the 2004 title won
when they were freshmen, and the Antlers are
119-11 (.915) during that time.
Hagemann is the Nebraska recruit who was the
honorary captain of The World-Herald's
All-Nebraska team last season. After battling
through a leg injury midway through the season,
Hagemann has posted a 21-1 record with a 0.31
ERA while nearing the career milestone of 1,000
strikeouts.
Graver said Hagemann has never performed better
than she did in last month's Eastern Midlands
Conference title victory over Blair, when she
threw a perfect game with 18 strikeouts in a 5-0
victory.
"They put three balls in play against her and
fouled off four five others," Graver said. "That
was it. That's the best she's ever pitched."
Hagemann also set a Class B state record with 20
strikeouts in a 6-0 victory over Fremont. That
victory over Blair in the EMC finals — and
another 5-0 win over the Bears on Oct. 5 in the
District B-3 championship game — avenged
Elkhorn's 6-4 loss the Blair on Sept. 4 that
ended the Antlers' bid for a perfect season.
Hagemann and Haget, who also will be playing for
the Huskers next season, are hitting .534. Haget,
a speedy second baseman, has scored a
team-leading 39 runs to go with her team-high 47
hits.
Dreessen,
Hullinger and Neiman are hitting .386 or better
entering what could be the final four games. But
Graver said his team isn't ready to look at the
potentially historic numbers.
"I have not mentioned any of that stuff to the
girls one time this season," Graver said. "They
know it's out there, but they haven't talked
about it.
"That's something later on you can think about
and enjoy, but when the season's going on you're
so tied up in the next opponent, trying to get
better and just keep playing."
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Published Tuesday | October
9, 2007
Nebraska Softball Tourney:
Titans driven to stay longer
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Winning all of those one- and two-run games this
season hasn't been just an incredible run of
good fortune for the Papillion-La Vista South
softball team.
Strong pitching and defense, a year-round
commitment to strength training and consistent
clutch hitting have put No. 1-ranked
Papillion-La Vista South (34-1) in position to
win a state title in the program's fifth season.
Papillion-La Vista South will open the Class A
state tournament at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Hastings
against Grand Island (14-24) as the Titans aim
for a berth in Friday's 5 p.m. final.
Senior third baseman
Krista
Steen said an empty feeling after the
past two state tournaments is driving the Titans
to be a team everyone remembers.
"We just want it more than everybody else,"
Steen said. "Our team of seniors really wants to
win. What happened last year showed us we
couldn't just show up and win. We had to work
harder during the offseason."
Last year, the Titans were ranked second heading
into the state tournament but finished 1-2.
Papillion-La Vista South came within one out of
making the 2005 final but dropped a 7-6,
nine-inning decision to Papillion-La Vista.
Papillion-La Vista South hasn't lost since the
second game of a Sept. 13 doubleheader with
Millard South and is the second Class A team to
reach the state tournament with one defeat.
Lincoln Southeast went to the 2001 state
tournament with a 39-1 record but finished 42-3.
Papillion-La Vista beat the Knights twice en
route to the state title.
Ten of the Titans' 34 victories have been by one
run, and eight other wins have been two-run
decisions. They scored more than nine runs only
three times in their other 16 victories.
"I've never had a season where everything has
fallen into place in tight games," coach Dan
Hogan said. "The players are very resilient.
They just have a lot of heart, and we've had
some great leadership."
More than one or two Titans have been
late-inning heroes. Whether it's
Steen,
Alyssa Kirsch, Emily Perry, Chelse Koca, Kylie
Kohler or Alexa Mackevicius, no Titan is afraid
of a late-inning challenge.
When they do have a lead, Mackevicius has cooled
opponents' bats from the mound. The Creighton
recruit has a 23-0 record with a 0.45 ERA.
Hogan also credits a year-round strength and
conditioning program for success in the late
innings and the days when the Titans have played
three or four games.
"It just helps the kids get stronger and
faster," Hogan said. "In 2005 we had 40
extra-base hits, and the next year we had 70.
That's no coincidence."
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Published Friday | October
5, 2007
Papillion-La Vista South 1, Lincoln North
Star 0:
Krista Steen drove in Jenny Johnson for the
game's lone run for the Top 10 No. 1 Titans.
David City 0, 6 inn.: Erin Hullinger and
Amy
Dresseen each had a double and a single
for Elkhorn.
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Washington County
Pilot
|
9/28/2007
8:47:00 AM |
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Rasmussen's
home run lifts Bears
A trio of
Blair pitchers combine to shutout Plattsmouth in EMC Tourney win.
Jack Denker
Sports Editor
When a listless
Blair softball team needed a spark against Plattsmouth last Tuesday
night, during the first-round of the Eastern Midlands Conference
Tournament, Jordan Rasmussen provided it with one swing of the bat.
With the Class B No. 6-rated Bears nursing a 2-0 lead, Rasmussen stepped
to the plate in the fourth inning and launched a two-run homer to the
deepest part of center field.
The sophomore shortstop's towering blast gave her teammates a lift and
powered Blair to a 5-0 win over the Blue Devils.
"The pitch came in right where I like it (down the middle)," Rasmussen
said. "There was a runner on second base, so I knew I had to bring her
in. I knew it (the softball) was going out as soon as I hit it."
Prior to Rasmussen's home run, her second one of the season, the Bears
sputtered offensively.
Through three innings of play, Blair was held hitless by Plattsmouth
freshman pitcher Shelby Kendelin.
The Bears did manage to score two runs in the third inning, though, when
Carly Nielsen and Rachel Plessing were brought home by a pair of Blue
Devil throwing errors.
"We had some trouble adjusting to a slower pitcher early in the game,"
Rasmussen said. "We felt that if we could string some hits together, we
could get things going as the game moved along."
The Blair hitters did get things going during their final three at bats.
Taylor Fernau led off the fourthframe with a single. She later scored on
Rasmussen's home run.
Then in the fifth inning, Plessing singled and stole second, before
Sarah Rome drove her in with a double.
In all, the Bears scored the final three runs of the contest on their
only four hits of the night.
The five Blair runs were more than enough to secure victory, however, as
three Bear pitchers combined to limit Plattsmouth (6-12) to three hits
without scoring a run.
MacKenzie Welchert started the game in the circle for BHS and struck out
the only three batters she faced.
Nielsen entered the game in relief of Welchert in the second inning and
struck out five Blue Devils over the next two innings to earn the win.
Olivia Warrick finished
up by striking out two PHS hitters over the final four innings to earn
the save.
"This win should build our confidence for the rest of the tournament,"
Rasmussen said. "We've already beat all the teams in our conference at
least once this season, so hopefully we can keep that going."
The win advanced the Bears (18-3) into the EMC Tournament semifinals
this Thursday in Plattsmouth.
Editor's Note: Blair was scheduled to play Nebraska City in the
semifinals yesterday. The results of that game, and the rest of the EMC
Tournament were not available at press time for this issue of the
Enterprise. See Tuesday's Pilot-Tribune for complete coverage.
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Published
Tuesday | October 2, 2007
Nebraska prep softball results
• Papillion-LV South 3, Om. Marian 2:
Krista Steen was 2 for 4 for
the Top 10 No. 1 Titans (30-1)
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Published
Friday | September 28, 2007
Prep softball results
• Papillion-La Vista South 8, Om. Bryan 0, 6
inn.:
Jessica
Grothe homered to back a one-hitter by
Becky Dunn, who had 12 strikeouts for 25-1
Papillion-La Vista South.
Eastern Midlands Conf. Tournament
Semifinals
• Elkhorn 12, Gretna 0:
Brittany
Hoock, Ashley Hagemann and
Amy
Dresseen each had a home run for the
Antlers.
Championship
• Elkhorn 5, Blair 0: Ashley Hagemann
threw a perfect game with 18 strikeouts and
Amy
Dreessen had a two-run home run for
Elkhorn (23-1).
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Published
Wednesday | September 26, 2007
Prep softball results
• DC West 5, North Bend 4:
Allie
Frost had two hits, Dani Snyder added two
hits and two RBIs and Amanda Samson hit the
go-ahead two-run single in the sixth for the
Falcons (13-8).
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Published
Friday | September 21, 2007
Prep Softball: Titans survive
Top 10 test
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Another one-run game, another victory for
Papillion-La Vista South.
And another loss for Omaha Westside.
The Titans - ranked No. 1 - won their seventh
one-run game of the season Thursday with a 1-0
victory over third-ranked Omaha Westside in a
showdown of Top 10 teams.
Westside's fortunes have been the polar opposite
in similar games. The 14-6 Warriors are 1-6 in
one-run games, with their lone victory a 2-1,
8-inning decision Sept. 1 over Class B No. 7
Omaha Skutt.
This time the loss had a lot to do with the
opposing pitcher. Creighton recruit Alexa
Mackevicius had a perfect game through five
innings and finished with a no-hitter to improve
her record to 15-0 this season.
"She's been mentally tough all year," Titans
coach Dan Hogan said. "She's won five or six
games by one run, and when that happens you know
the pitching is there."
Mackevicius walked Amy Peterson to start the
inning and end the chance for a perfect game.
The only other Warrior to get on base was
shortstop Jennifer Bohle, who reached on a
two-out error later that inning.
Westside's rally ended when Mackevicius got
future Creighton teammate Crista Ruf to ground
out to third base.
Papio South scored the run it needed in the top
of the sixth. Catcher Emily Perry led off with a
single to center field, and then Mackevicius
laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to second
base.
Third baseman
Krista
Steen followed that with a single to left
that scored Perry as the throw home sailed over
Westside catcher Amy Baker's head. The Titans
also had two runners on base in the fourth
inning and finished the game with seven hits.
Coach Kevin Dunn insisted the Warriors don't
keep track of the number of close losses and is
confident some of those hard-hit balls going
right to fielders will turn into hits in the
last two weeks of the regular season.
"Honestly we don't even think about it," Dunn
said. "Maybe it's a costly error here or not
getting a big hit with a runner on base there.
We'll just keep battling and keep doing what
we're doing."
Papillion-La Vista South (22-1)......000 001
0-1 7 1
Omaha Westside (14-6)..................000 000
0-0 0 0
• W-Alexa Mackevicius (15-0). L-Katie Jones
(7-5).
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Papillion Times Titans triumph at
Monarch Invite
By: Jason Bissell, Times Staff
Writer
09/19/2007
It was business as usual last week for
the top-rated softball team in the
state, the Papillion-La-Vista South
Titans.
Although they suffered their first loss
of the season, a 2-1 setback to Millard
South, the Titans turned things around
going 4-0 and capturing the Monarch
Invite championship on Saturday.
After starting the season 17-0
Papillion-La Vista South dropped a
one-run game to Millard South.
"It came as a disappointment to them,"
coach Dan Hogan said. "We had a team
meeting and you could tell it affected
them."
Whatever effect it had didn't last long.
The Titans came to the Monarch Invite
with winning their fourth tournament
championship in mind.
The Titans began the tournament with a
2-1 victory over Omaha Burke.
Papillion-La Vista South scored two runs
in the top of the third thanks to
Krista Steen's two-run hit. Becky
Dunn gave up one run in the bottom of
the seventh and gave up just three hits
for the game as she improved her record
to 7-1.
Hogan said he was proud of how his team
bounced back after the season's first
loss. "I was very proud of them," he
said. "Becky Dunn pitched an excellent
game and
Krista Steen got the only hit,
but it brought in both runs."
It didn't take long for the momentum to
build for the Titans as they took down
Millard North 5-0 in their next game.
The Titans scored two runs in the sixth
and added three more in the seventh.
Emily Perry went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Alexa Mackevicius chipped in two hits
and an RBI, while
Ashley Wohlers scored twice.
With a 3-0 win in their next game
against Lincoln Southeast, the Titans
found their way back to yet another
championship game, this time against
Gross.
The Titans got on the board in the first
inning with a run and added two more in
the fifth. That was all they would need
as Mackevicius gave up just one run in
the seventh inning for the 3-1 victory.
Mackevicius came through at the plate as
well, going 1 for 3 including a big
two-run single in the fifth.
"Alexa started hitting the ball well
against Millard North," Hogan said. "She
is hitting over .300 and her bat is key
for us down the stretch."
The week proved the Titans aren't
invincible, but the battle-tested squad
has taken on some of the best
competition around. It may serve as
great preparation for the coming weeks.
"We played every rated team in Class A,"
Hogan said. "We have won five one-run
games, so a lot of teams are capable of
beating each other, us included."
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Published
Sunday | September 16, 2007
Prep softball results
• D.C. West 9-11, Madison 1-0 (4):
In game one, Courtney Lawson had
two triples with an RBI and Abbi Eggen picked up the win on the mound, striking
out seven. In game two, Lawson
threw a perfect game for the four-inning victory
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Published
Friday | September 14, 2007
Prep softball results
• Elkhorn 5, Om. Mercy 0: Ashley
Hagemann had a perfect game with 17 strikeouts and
Brittney Hoock had two hits for
Class B No. 2 Elkhorn (15-1).
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Top-ranked Titan softball team topples Southwest
By LORI GRIFFIN / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 - 01:44:40 pm CDT
The Papillion-La Vista South softball coaches made a loud
plea to their Class A top-ranked team heading into the bottom of
the sixth inning Wednesday against No. 10 Southwest at Doris
Bair Park.
It was a plea for insurance. The Titans were up 2-0, but the
coaches still decided that an insurance run was necessary.
And Ashley Wohlers
delivered.
The Titans (16-0) opened the sixth with a double
by Wohlers.
Omaha Westside transfer Chelse Koca bunted
Wohlers to third
before Emily Perry’s single scored her.
“We really capitalized on three good bunts in the game, to score
three good runs,” Papillion-La Vista South coach Dan Hogan said.
“We knew Lincoln Southwest is a well-coached team and they play
sound, fundamental softball. We knew it would be a good game.”
A bunt and three Southwest errors gave the Titans a 1-0 lead in
the first inning. The lead held until the fifth, when courtesy
runner Allie Mathewson scored after a double by Taylor Anding.
“Three errors was not a good way to start the game,” Southwest
coach Mark Watt said. “But we recovered and battled back and
kept it close.”
Southwest (10-5) loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but
could not come up with a run.
With one out, Madison Drake walked and Jackie Nordell and Allie
Catlett both singled to load the bases. Two consecutive
strikeouts ended the inning.
“I thought about the possibility of trying to squeeze bunt, but
we were getting some clutch hits so it didn’t happen,” Watt
said. “We just couldn’t quite do it. That happens when you get
two good teams together.”
The two teams were to have played a season-opening doubleheader,
but it was postponed because of rain. A decision was made to
reschedule just a single game.
“It’s hard to tell what would have happened if we had played a
doubleheader,” Watt said. “But we did reschedule it right away
because I feel it makes us better to play good teams.”
Senior Alexa Mackevicius, a Creighton recruit, earned the win
for the Titans, giving up three hits and a walk. She struck out
nine.
Southwest sophomore Ashley Dunn took the loss, throwing a
seven-hitter.
“Alexa pitched well,” Hogan said. “She’s an all-stater and she
hasn’t been beaten this season and continues to rise to the
occasion.
“And Southwest has a pitcher who’s only a sophomore who shows a
lot of potential,” Hogan said of Dunn.
Papillion-La Vista South and Southwest will both face tough
competition the next three days.
The Titans play ninth-ranked Millard South before competing in
the Monarch Invitational in Papillion on Saturday.
Southwest faces Norfolk in a doubleheader today before heading
to the North Platte Tournament.
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Published
Wednesday | September 12, 2007
Prep softball results
• Ralston 8, Om. Skutt 0:
Brooke Cronican threw a no-hitter
and Mariah Montgomery went 3 for 4 to lead the Rams.
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Published
Tuesday | September 11, 2007
Titans rely on quick start to
top Marian for Metro title
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Papillion-La Vista South earned a repeat Metro
Conference softball championship on Monday night
by repeating the way it defeated Omaha Marian
earlier this season.
The 14-0 Titans scored two runs in the bottom of
the first inning en route to a 3-2 win over the
Crusaders before an estimated crowd of 250 at
Seymour Smith. In their first meeting of the
season on Sept. 1, the Titans scored twice in
the first inning on their way to winning the
Norfolk Invitational title.
"I did talk to them about that," Titans coach
Dan Hogan said. "We wanted to jump on them early
so they'd think back to that Norfolk tournament.
Overall, our kids did a good job and got some
timely hits."
Marian's appearance in the championship game was
a bit of a surprise, as the 9-4 Crusaders have a
young team with just one senior and two juniors
on its roster. But the Crusaders have shown that
they've grown up quickly by battling back from a
3-0 deficit after three innings.
"I told them I was just as proud of them tonight
for the way they battled as I was on Saturday
when they beat Papillion," Marian coach Al
Leaders said. "Sometimes the effort rewards you
with wins and sometimes it doesn't."
Returning All-Nebraska player Alexa Mackevicius
kept the Crusaders off-balance most of the night
by scattering three hits and recording six
strikeouts.
Papio South gave Mackevicius an early cushion by
scoring two runs in the bottom of the first
inning as the Titans mixed in two hits while
taking advantage of a pair of Marian errors.
Center fielder Chelse Koca led off by reaching
base on the first error. She then moved to
second on a wild pitch and to third on a single
by catcher Emily Perry before Mackevicius
brought her home on a groundout to shortstop.
Third baseman
Krista
Steen then drove Perry home with a single
up the middle for the second run.
The top-ranked Titans tacked on what proved to
be the winning run in the third when Mackevicius
singled with two outs. Her courtesy runner,
Allie Mathewson, eventually scored on a single
by first baseman Alyssa Kirsch. Hogan said the
hit was Kirsch's fifth game-winning RBI of the
season.
Marian got one of those runs back in the top of
the fourth when second baseman Sara Borowiak
doubled down the left-field line and scored on a
single by third baseman Ali Gorup.
Losing pitcher Shelby Mendlik - one of Marian's
two pitchers who throws every other inning -
crushed a Mackevicius offering over the
left-field fence in the top of the seventh to
trim Papio's lead to one.
But Mackevicius bounced back to strike out the
next three batters and seal the victory.
"I could tell she really buckled down after
that," Hogan said. "She showed her true colors
as a first-team all-state player."
Omaha Marian (9-4).........................000
100 1-2 4 2
PLV South (14-0)...............................201
000 x-3 6 0
At Seymour Smith
• W: Alexa Mackevicius. L: Shelby Mendlik. 2B:
M, Sara Borowiak. HR: M, Mendlik. A :250 (est.).
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Published
Friday | September 7, 2007
Prep Softball: Crusaders,
Titans reach Metro tourney final
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Clutch play in the late innings on Saturday
secured spots in the Metro Conference softball
tournament championship game for Papillion-La
Vista South and Omaha Marian.
The top-ranked Titans had to rally in the bottom
of the seventh inning to edge Millard West 4-2
in the quarterfinals before squeezing out a run
in the bottom of the sixth to edge Millard North
1-0 in the semifinals.
Class A No. 7 Marian slipped past Top 10 No. 10
Omaha Westside 3-2 in the quarterfinals before
roughing up No. 2 Papillion-La Vista for four
runs in the sixth inning in a 5-2 semifinal
triumph.
Millard North reached the semifinals with an
11-3 win over Millard South while Papillion-La
Vista defeated Omaha North 10-0 in six innings.
All six of those games - plus four losers
bracket contests - were played at Seymour Smith,
where the championship game is scheduled for
Monday at 7 p.m.
Papillion-La Vista South earned its shot at a
repeat championship after scoring all four of
its runs against Millard West with two outs in
the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners
at first and second base, winning pitcher Alexa
Mackevicius tied the game with a double before
Krista
Steen won the game with a home run.
Alyssa Kirsch then had her fourth game-winning
RBI of the season when she singled to bring home
Emily Perry in the bottom of the sixth for the
one run needed to defeat Millard North.
After starting the season with back-to-back
losses in its own tournament, Marian has
rebounded to win eight of its past nine games
with a roster that includes only one senior and
two juniors. UNO recruit Molly Feichtinger
scored the Crusaders' first run and drove in the
other two in the victory over Westside.
"Molly has been a great leader and really works
well with the younger players," Marian coach Al
Leaders said. "That first day we had some errors
that cost us, but since then we've been getting
better as we go along."
Thirteen of Marian's first 15 outs against
Papillion-La Vista were strikeouts by Monarchs'
ace Kylie Hovinga before the Crusaders got some
offensive momentum in the sixth to take the lead
for good and secure their first berth in the
championship game since 2000.
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Papillion TImes Titans win second
straight tournament
By: Jason Bissell, Times Staff
Writer
09/05/2007
If Taylor Anding's homerun in a 13-1
thrashing of Omaha North to begin last
week was an omen, then the outcome of
the Norfolk Invite over the weekend
should have been easy to predict.
The Class A No. 1 Titans steamrolled
through the Norfolk Invite on Saturday,
winning all four games to improve to
9-0. But Papillion-La Vista South didn't
exactly have an easy road to that title.
The Titans opened the tournament with a
1-0 victory over No. 3 Millard North. It
was the second time the Titans have
defeated the Mustangs this season. Alexa
Mackevicius dominated in the circle,
giving up just one hit and striking out
nine. Chelse Koca went 2 for 4 in the
victory.
While the bats could only put up one run
in the first match, game two against
Kearney saw an offensive explosion.
The Titans won 10-2 behind 12 hits.
Emily Perry went 3 for 4 with a double,
while Kylie Kohler added two hits
including a double.
Krista Steen also added two hits for
Papillion-La Vista South and now leads
the team with a .471 batting average.
The victory set up a match with No. 4
Omaha Westside.
The two teams met for the first time
this season and Alyssa Kirsch made sure
it would end on a positive note for the
Titans.
In the top of the third the Titan senior
hit a three-run homerun to give her team
a 3-0 lead. Mackevicius gave up a run in
the fourth and fifth, but held strong
the rest of the way to get the win.
With the victory the Titans are now 4-0
in one-run games.
"Kirsch has really come through," head
coach Dan Hogan said. "She's got several
key hits this year. She has won three
games with her clutch hitting."
Once again Kirsch shined in the
championship game against Omaha Marian.
In the top of the first, the third
baseman drove in two runs and went 2 for
3 in the 2-0 victory. Mackevicius
improved her record to 6-0.
"Kirsch had a big weekend," Hogan said.
"She drove in six runs on Saturday and
has been great."
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Published
Saturday | September 1, 2007
Prep softball results
• Papio-LV South
10, Kearney 2: Emily Perry, Kylie Kohler and
Krista Steen
combined for seven hits for the Titans.
• Elkhorn 4, Bellevue West 2:
Amy Dressen
went 3 for 3 with two RBIs.
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Published Friday | August
31, 2007
Prep softball results
• Ralston 11, North Platte 1 (4 inn.):
Brooke
Cronican threw a three-hitter and Megan
Wagman had a triple, a double and three RBIs for the
Top 10 No. 4 Rams.
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Published Friday | August
31, 2007
Nebraska prep softball
results
• Elkhorn 6, Bennington 0:
Amy Dreessen
had four hits and Leslie Neiman added two hits and
an RBI as Top 10 No. 1 Elkhorn (5-0) knocked off
Class C No. 4 Bennington
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Papillion Times Titans snag Marian
Invite championship
By: Jason Bissell, Times Staff
Writer
08/29/2007
What a way to start the season for the
Titans' softball team.
Papillion-La Vista South went 4-0 over
the weekend to capture the Marian Invite
championship. What made it even more
impressive is the fact several teams in
the tournament might find their season
extended into the state tournament when
the time comes.
The Titans joined Papillion-La Vista,
Millard West, Millard North and Millard
South as ranked teams in the eight-team
tournament.
"I feel like the better competition we
have the better we become," head coach
Dan Hogan said. "The Marian tournament
has the best teams in the state. By
doing well, it will help our
confidence."
The Titans didn't exactly have an easy
road on their way to the championship.
It took three come-from-behind wins for
Papillion-La Vista South to claim their
prize.
Becky Dunn took the circle in game one
and helped the Titans to a 7-1 victory.
Chelse Koca, Emily Perry,
Krista Steen and Kylie Kohler
each had two hits in the effort.
The Titans needed a sixth-inning rally
to secure win No. 2 against Millard
West. After giving up two runs in the
top of the sixth, the Titans used hits
by Koca, Perry,
Steen and a sacrifice fly by
Alyssa Kirsch to score three runs in the
bottom of the inning to win, 3-2. The
Titans faced their second straight
ranked opponent when they took on Class
A No. 4 Millard North.
The Mustangs scored two runs off Alexa
Mackevicius, but the Titans came back
with one in the top of the fourth and
three more in the top of the fifth to
get the 4-2 victory. The
come-from-behind theme continued into
the championship game when the Titans
took on the Monarchs.
Papillion-La Vista took a 1-0 lead of
Mackevicius in the top of the first on a
Megan Southworth double, but the Titans
scored twice in the bottom of the inning
off of Kylie Hovinga when Kirsch brought
home a pair of runs.
Hovinga, an All-Stater last season, is
expected to be one of the best in the
state again. Getting to her early was
important, Hogan said.
"Hovinga appears to get better as the
game progresses," he said. "Kirsch came
through in the clutch again, as she did
against Millard West."
After giving up the run in the first,
Hogan said his All-State pitcher took
control of the game.
"Alexa allowed four hits and settled
down after the first inning," Hogan
said. "She pitched a great game."
The Titans added another win on Monday
with a 13-1 victory over Omaha North.
This weekend the team travels to Norfolk
for the Norfolk Invite.
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Published Tuesday | August
28, 2007
Prep softball results
• DC West 8, Om. Duschene 0, 6 inn.:
Courtney
Lawson pitched a one-hit shutout, and Taylor
Dunker homered, tripled and doubled for DC West.
• Elkhorn 10, Plattsmouth 0: Liz Hullinger
doubled and tripled, and
Amy Dreessen
added three singles for Elkhorn (4-0).
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Published Friday | August
24, 2007
Prep Softball: Rams, Gross
get openers in
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
Ralston and Omaha Gross were among the teams
happy that Thursday night's wet weather didn't
delay the start of their softball seasons.
A game's scheduled location proved to be the key
in whether it was completed or postponed. On the
western edge of Omaha, Ralston defeated Millard
West 11-2 in five innings. But Papillion-La
Vista and Lincoln East had to stop play in the
first inning because of lightning, heavy rain
and hail at Volunteer Field in Sarpy County.
The Monarchs had scored three runs in the bottom
of the first inning after the game had already
been delayed 35 minutes because of a 10-minute
downpour. The rematch of last year's Class A
state championship game has been rescheduled for
Monday at 6 p.m., as has the Millard South's
game at Omaha Burke.
Ralston, the 2006 Class B runner-up, scored six
runs in the fourth inning to support a
three-hitter by
Brooke
Cronican. Tina Winter had a double and
two RBIs, Devon Reick scored three runs and
stole two bases and Courtney Peterson had two
hits and scored twice to lead the Rams in their
first game for new coach Mike Smith.
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but we played
about as well as we can play," Smith said. "We
only had one error and didn't give up a hit
until the fourth inning."
Gross swept McCook (2-1) and North Platte (6-0)
in a double dual that also featured Omaha Skutt
in ideal weather conditions at Hastings' Bill
Smith Complex, the site of the Oct. 10-12 state
tournaments. Coach Kelly Cheshier said she was
pleasantly surprised with the way her young team
performed.
"We have a brand new pitcher who learned last
year from a senior, and our hitters were patient
and got the big hits when we needed them,"
Cheshier said. "Everybody stepped up and did a
great job."
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Published Friday | August 24, 2007
D.C. West 3, Bellevue West 0:
Allie Frost went 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
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Published Thursday | August 23, 2007
Ralston 11, Millard West 2: Nebraska Top 10 No. 10 Ralston had seven hits
and Brook Cronican earned the win
as the Rams upended Class A No. 7 Millard West.
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Washington
County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise
|
8/21/2007
8:43:00 AM |
Email this article •
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The pitching chores for the 2007 Blair High School
varsity softball team will be handled by a staff of four
players (above, from left):
Olivia Warrick,
Carly Nielsen, Elly Janssen and MacKenzie Welchert. Bear
Coach Jon Small said all four pitchers will be called
upon to deliver in different situations this season.
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Bears to take
committee approach
Blair Coach
Jon Small will use a staff of 4 pitchers to off-set the loss of an all-stater.
Jack Denker
Sports Editor
For four years,
Mandy Osborn dominated opposing batters like no Bear pitcher before her.
From 2003 to 2006, Osborn was a four-year starter on the Blair High
School softball team, a three-time All-Eastern Midlands Conference
selection and a two-time All-Nebraska player.
Last year alone, Osborn was the winning pitcher in 26 of her team's 27
wins and she pitched 213 of the Bear's 225 total innings played (during
the 2006 season).
Serving as Blair's ace pitcher for four straight years, Osborn
established nearly all of the BHS pitching records, including career
wins (82), earned run average (0.44) and strikeouts (965).
Those 965 K's also established Osborn as the career strikeout leader in
Class B.
At the conclusion of her senior season, Osborn earned a softball
scholarship to Division I Drake University.
So, the obvious question for Blair Coach Jon Small, heading into the
2007 season this week: Who is going to replace such a dominant four-year
starting pitcher?
"It is true that Mandy was a very good pitcher for our team the last
four seasons as her stats reflect," Small said. "As for this year, our
focus is not on what we don't have, or the girls that no longer play for
us, rather what we do have."
And according to Small, the Bears have an abundance of quality pitchers
on the roster that should ease the pain of losing Osborn.
"We have had several dominant players come through our program and every
year we have girls step up and replace them," he said. "It will be the
same this year."
Instead of relying on the dominance of just one pitcher, Small said he
will call upon four different players-each with a unique style and
strength-to handle the BHS varsity pitching chores this season.
Making up the Blair pitching staff this fall will be senior Elly
Janssen, sophomores MacKenzie Welchert and
Olivia Warrick and
freshman Carly Nielsen.
"We have a number of girls that we feel will do a very good job of
pitching varsity games for us this year and we plan on using multiple
girls in that role," Small said. "In fact, we plan on making pitching
changes throughout the course of a game to give hitters different
looks."
Janssen is the veteran of the staff. She is a two-year letter winner,
who hits her spots and changes speeds well with her pitches, Small said.
Welchert is a power pitcher, who throws hard and moves the ball
inside-out, up-and-down. She is the only member of the staff with some
varsity pitching experience, posting a 1-0 record with a .58 earned run
average and 15 strikeouts for BHS in 2006.
Warrick is a crafty
lefthander, with a good change-up, and Nielsen is a hard thrower with a
lot of movement.
"We feel we can keep hitters off balance with different looks from the
pitching circle," Small said. "Having a number of pitchers also helps in
practice. We are able to see live pitching every day and the different
styles help our hitters."
Pitching depth isn't the only thing that excites Small about the 2007
Blair softball squad.
"One of the things that has me most excited about this year's team is
that we have depth at all positions, including pitcher," he said. "We
think we are going to have a really strong team. In fact, it may be my
best overall team."
If it is, the Bears will stand a very good chance of earning a third
straight berth in the Class B state tournament. Blair has already
qualified for state four times this decade.
"We expect to be right in the mix for another trip to state," Small
said.
The Blair softball team will open the 2007 season at Gretna this
Thursday (Aug. 23), at 6:30 p.m |
_____________________________________
Updated
08/21/2007 12:24:44 PM EDT
Even with a
new look in the dugout this season, Ralston is hoping for familiar results
on the softball field.
Mike Smith
takes over the Ralston job this fall and looks to guide a team that came
within one win of another Class B state title a year ag
Ralston
opens its 2007 campaign with a road game at Millard West Thursday at 6 p.m.
Smith does have some key components to replace, but he should have a very
talented nucleus to begin his softball coaching career with.
The leader
of that group is all-state shortstop Mariah Montgomery. The junior hit a
team best .420 a year ago and led the team in RBIs.
Centerfielder Devon Reick is another all-state performer
as the senior hit .397 a year ago and led the team in runs scored.
After
sharing pitching duties with Elena Rojas last season, senior
Brooke Cronican will shoulder
more of a load in 2007. She went 10-3 with a 2.77 ERA last year.
Megan Wagman will help out with pitching chores.
Junior third
baseman Tina Winter was a second-team all-stater after hitting .357 and
finishing second in runs driven in.
Second
baseman Amanda Teshack is a three-time returning letterwinner, as is catcher
Courtney Petersen. Junior Julia Rubek is another returnee who excels as
utility player.
Junior
Jessica Pasewalk will join sophomores Sami Winter and Katie Jadlowski and
freshmen Mara Eeman, Brooke Lyman and Mallory Ayers as players seeking
playing time.
_____________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS TO OLIVIA WARRICK FIRST TEAM CLASS
B FRESHMAN TOURNAMENT ALL-STATE !!!
All State Team
_____________________________________
2006
_____________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS TO BRITTANY HOOCK AND THE
ELKHORN ANTLERS
CLASS B STATE CHAMPIONS !!!
_____________________________________
The World-Herald's
14th All-Nebraska high school softball team...
CLASS C HONORABLE
MENTION Arlington: Amber Boulton. Ashland-Greenwood: Lexie Martin, Sarah
Kwiatkowski, Taylor Martin. Bennington: Ashley Anderson, Lyndsay Drumm. Central
City: Sara Shively. Chase County: Tabitha Russell. Columbus Lakeview: Nicole
Sempek, Dani Went. Douglas County West:
Allie Frost, Abbi Eggen, Brandi Burke. Falls City: Kayla Fritz, Heather
Feck. Fillmore Central/EM: Kali Reinsch. Gothenburg: Bre Messersmith, Vanessa
Linega. High Plains: Haley Strobel, Jonella Yrkoski, Ashley Fleming. Logan View:
Dani Mowinkel. North Bend: Morgan Smeal, Jackie Dirkschneider. St. Paul: Amanda
Miner, Brittney Rowse. Southern: Kelsey Schiebur, Danae Disney. Southern Valley:
Emily Witte. Syracuse: Leslie Watermeier, Taylor Cameron. Tekamah-Herman:
Chelsea Maslowsky, Cara Cameron. Twin River: Andrea Wyman, Tanya Snyder. Wahoo
Neumann: Nicole Spicka, Erin Prohaska. Wayne: Alesha Finkey, Mirisa Carroll.
West Point Central Catholic: Jaci Mowinkel, Karmen Emanuel. Yutan-Mead: Kelsey
Kult.
_____________________________________
|
|
| The Titans'
Krista Steen
dives back safely into to second base as Monarch Hollie Obrecht
fields the catcher's throw on a short hop. |
|
Published Thursday October 12, 2006
_____________________________________
Published Saturday
October 7, 2006
Patriots back at state
A junior varsity pitcher and a 26-run explosion over three games helped
Millard South earn the chance to defend its Class A state softball title.
The Patriots defeated Millard West 7-4 Friday in the championship game of the
District A-4 tournament after defeating the Wildcats and Fremont Thursday for a
berth in the title game.
Millard South coach Steve Kerkman turned to sophomore pitcher
Alyssa Kilgore to lead the
Patriots (19-13) after starter Amanda Martines needed to rest her sore arm.
"Alyssa pitched JV all year
because we didn't have another pitcher at that level," Kerkman said. "We've had
trouble with defense all year, so we put Amanda at second base. She really
shores that up for us."
Millard South was one of six teams to earn berths to next week's state
tournament at Seymour Smith Park. Other district champions crowned Friday were
Bellevue West in A-1, top-ranked Omaha Westside (A-2), Lincoln East (A-3),
Papillion-La Vista (A-5) and Norfolk (A-6).
Unofficial calculations give No. 2-ranked Papillion-La Vista South and No. 3
Millard North the wild card berths for the eight-team event starting Wednesday.
The official tournament pairings for all three classes will be released today.
Kilgore pitched only 101/3
varsity innings before districts, but Kerkman wasn't concerned that lack of
experience would hurt her in postseason competition.
"She throws a little harder and we have that element of other teams not
having seen her before," Kerkman said. "She threw at the end of the Papillion
game (a 9-1 loss Oct. 3) and she shut them down for three innings, so we knew
she could handle this."
"We'll be excited any way we look at it," Kerkman said. "We've been working
on pitching and defense, and we've played tremendous offense lately. We've had
five different girls hit home runs this year, so that makes us a little tougher
to defend."
Millard West (15-12).........................002 010 1-4 12 1
Millard South (19-13).........................210 310 x-7 12 2
• W: Alyssa Kilgore (4-0). L:
Bailey McIntosh. 2B: MW, Sara Borowiak. 3B: MS, Katie Turner,
J. Dillon.
_____________________________________
B-2 at Blair
Elkhorn 2, Blair 1
A two-run double by catcher Liz Hullinger in the fifth inning gave the
Antlers all the runs they needed to earn a third consecutive win over their
Eastern Midlands Conference rivals.
Third baseman Brittany Hoock
reached on a bunt single before second baseman Nikki Haget singled up the
middle. The throw went to home plate, allowing Haget to advance to third.
Ashley Hagemann scattered four hits and had 11 strikeouts for the Antlers
(26-1). Blair's Mandy Osborn had eight strikeouts for the Bears (25-5).
_____________________________________
Published Friday October 6, 2006
Class C
Batting
(Minimum of 60 at bats)
Player, Team.................H-AB Avg.
Naylor, Yutan/Mead.........................34-60 .567
Guyle, Yutan/Mead.........................30-62 .484
Sladek, Fillmore Central/EM.........................32-68 .471
Marting, Ashland-GW.........................30-76 .469
Frost, DC
West.........................40-88 .455
Munoz, Falls City.........................28-64 .438
Mowinkel, Logan View.........................28-66 .424
Milam, Falls City.........................28-67 .418
Newsham, Ashland-GW.........................23-71 .411
Spicka, Wahoo Neumann.........................28-71 .394
Reinsch, Fillmore Central/Em.........................28-71 .394
Emshoff, Fillmore Cental/Em.........................28-73 .384
Thomas, Yutan/Mead.........................23-60 .383
Burke, DC West.........................35-92 .380
Ruff, Bennington.........................27-72 .375
Kwiatkowski, Ashland-GW.........................24-75 .375
Ristau, Logan View.........................26-72 .361
Rogers, Arlington.........................23-66 .348
• RBIs: Sladek, Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan, 24; Mowinkel, West Point
CC, Feek, Falls City, 22; Naylor, Yutan/Mead, Thomas, Yutan/Mead,
Frost, DC West, Milam, Falls
City, 21; Carroll, Wayne, 20; Steuben, Columbus LV, 19; Newsham, Ashland-GW,
Spicka, Wahoo Neumann, 18; Harms, Arlington 16; Braun, Wahoo Neumann, Rogers,
Arlington, Thomspon, Arlington, Boulton, Arlington, Loos, Yutan/Mead,15.
• Runs: Rauner, Wayne, Fritz, Falls City, 24; Burke, DC West, Munoz, Falls
City, 23; Mohrman, Columbus LV, Milam, Falls City, 22; Mowinkel, Logan View,
Steuben, Columbus LV, Guyle, Yutan/Mead, Sladek, Fillmore Central/EM, 21;
Mowinkel, West Point CC, Newsham, Ashland-GW, Martin, Ashland-GW,19; Brichacek,
West Point CC, Finkey, Wayne, Spicka, Wahoo Neumann, 18; Pleska, Wahoo Neumann,
Frost, DC West, 16.
• Doubles: Sladek, Fillmore Central/EM, 12; Anderson, Bennington, 10;
Kwiatkowski, Ashland-GW, Bohling, Logan View, Naylor, Yutan/Mead, 8;
Franzluebbers, West Point CC, Matulka, Wahoo Neumann, Opfer, Arlington, Eggen,
DC West, Frost, DC West, 6;
Mowinkel, Logan View, Spicka, Wahoo Neumann, 5; Mowinkel, West Point CC, Harms,
Arlington, Burke, Munoz, Falls City, Feek, Falls City, Henson, Falls City, 4.
• Triples: Burke, DC West, 7; Emanuel, West Point CC, 5; Rogers, Arlington,
Mohrmann, Columbus LV, Rogers, Arlington, 4; Staats, Bennington, Bohn,
Bennington, Newsham, Ashland-GW, Mowinkel, Logan View,
Christensen, DC West, Milam,
Falls City, 3.
• Home runs: Sladek, Fillmore Central/EM, 4; Newsham, Ashland-GW,
Thomas, Yutan/Mead, 3; Kwitkowski, Ashland-GW, Mowinkel, Logan View, West,
Columbus LV, Frost, DC West, 2.
_____________________________________
Published Sunday October 3, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• DC West 12, Om. Duchesne 2, 5 inn.:
Allie Frost had two doubles
and three RBIs to pace the Falcons (12-5).
_____________________________________
Published Sunday October 1, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
Millard South Invitational
• Millard South 6, Lin. Southwest 1:
Jenny Dillon and Amanda Martines
had two hits and two RBIs each for the Class A No. 7 Patriots.
_____________________________________
Published Friday September 20, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• Douglas County West 6, West Point CC
0: Abby Eggan threw a two-hit shutout, striking out 10 and
Jessica Christensen went 2 for 4
with three RBIs.
_____________________________________
Published Friday September 15, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• DC West 7, Raymond Central 0: Bryana
Delira was 2 for 3 with two stolen bases, and Courtney Lawson,
Allie Frost
and Taylor Dunker each had two hits.
_____________________________________
Published Wednesday September 13, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• Papillion-La Vista South 10, Om. Benson 0, 5 inn.: Becky Dunn threw a
two-hitter, striking out 10 and Ashley
Wohlers added three hits to lead the Class A No. 1 Titans.
_____________________________________
Published Sunday September 10, 2006
Metro softball title is a first for Titans
» Nebraska prep softball results
Timely hitting and 21 innings of shutout pitching helped second-ranked
Papillion-La Vista South win the Metro softball tournament at Seymour Smith
Park.
Pitchers Alexa Mackevicius and Jen Eshbaugh combined for four shutouts,
including Eshbaugh's 2-0 victory over fifth-ranked Omaha Westside in Saturday's
championship game. Titans coach Dan Hogan said it was the first team
championship for Papillion-La Vista South in any sport; the school is in its
fourth season.
For Westside, it was a missed opportunity at avenging a playoff loss last
season to the Titans.
"They consider themselves the team to beat," Westside coach Kevin Dunn said.
"When we've played, they've been able to take advantage of situations and we
haven't. They were able to do that again today."
After Becky Dunn's shutout against Omaha South on Thursday, Papillion-La
Vista South's Mackevicius pitched a shutout against Omaha Marian in Saturday's
quarterfinals and another against Millard North in the semifinals.
The final against Westside was scoreless through six innings. Then
Papillion-La Vista South's Kirsch hit a leadoff triple and later scored on
Krista Steen's single to right
field.
"That triple would have been a home run at any other park," Hogan said.
Kirsch said she was ready to round third base and make it an inside-the-park
homer.
"I wanted to see Hogan waving his arm," Kirsch said.
Bubba Martinez gave the Titans their second run as she singled and scored
Ashley Simpson from second base. Coach Hogan waved Simpson around third, even
though Martinez singled to shallow left field.
"That second run was insurance, and I thought we'd need it," Hogan said.
"Westside is one of the best hitting teams in the Metro. For Eshbaugh to finish
the game without allowing a run saved the tournament shutout streak."
_____________________________________
Published Friday September 8, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• DC West 8, Plattsmouth 2: Abbi Eggen struck out four and
Allie Frost went 3 for 4 with a
home run to boost Douglas County West.
_____________________________________
Published Wednesday September 6, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• Plattsmouth 3, Nebraska City 1:
Shaunee Tietze pitched a complete
game, striking out five, to lead Plattsmouth.
_____________________________________
Published Friday September 1, 2006
Nebraska prep softball results
• DC West 6, Logan View 4:
Allie Frost batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a stolen base, and Courtney
Lawson was 2 for 3 with a stolen base as DC West upended Class C No. 7 Logan
View
_____________________________________
Published Thursday
August 24, 2006
Titans prevail in softball opener
BY STEVE BEIDECK
WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
So this is what softball fans have to look forward to in games that don't
have a 90-minute time limit.
Lincoln Southwest had lost the first game of its Thursday night doubleheader
with Papillion-La Vista South 8-0. The Top 10 No. 8-ranked Silver Hawks then
fell behind 7-2 heading into the seventh inning of the nightcap in a game that
would have been over after six innings under the old time-limit rule.
Three Titans errors and seven Southwest hits later, the Silver Hawks had a
9-7 lead. But Papio South junior
Krista Steen hammered an RBI triple to center field and scored on a ground out
by Bubba Martinez to tie the game 9-9 and force an extra inning.
The third-ranked Titans eventually scored the winning run after Southwest
forced the winning run home on a bases loaded walk to freshman Taylor Anding
after the Silver Hawks had intentionally walked the previous two batters.
Two hours and 30 minutes after the first pitch, Papio South had a 10-9
victory and a sweep of the season-opening doubleheader at Halleck Park's
Volunteer Field.
"We lost five starters from last year so we're very young and we still have a
lot to learn," Titans coach Dan Hogan said. "I credit my team for coming back
when it was 9-7 because a lot of teams would have folded the tent, but they have
a lot of fight in them."
Southwest coach Mark Watt said the first-game jitters and inexperience of
both teams was evident all night.
"Plus you haven't gelled yet as a team," Watt said. "Obviously that comeback
was a great sign for us and something we can build on."
Papillion-La Vista South had 13 hits in the first game, including six hits in
the six-run fourth inning.
Junior Alexa Mackevicius, who was the winning pitcher in both games, had nine
strikeouts in five innings of game one and was 3-for-3 with a walk. She also had
a triple and scored a run in the second game.
A pair of errors by Martinez, who was an All-Nebraska outfielder last season,
and another by sophomore Becky Dunn were among the critical plays that helped
Southwest get back into game two. The Titans and Silver Hawks combined for nine
errors in that second game.
Game one
Lincoln Southwest......000 000 0 - 0 1 1
Papillion-LV South.......000 620 x - 8 13 1
• W-Alexa Mackevicius. L-Madison Drake.
Game two
Lincoln Southwest (0-2).......010 010 70-9 14 4
Papillion-LV South (2-0)......100 159 21-10 9 5
• W-Mackevicius (2-0). L-Tiffany Forycki (0-1). 3B-PLVS, Mackevicius,
Krista Steen.
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