Andale-Garden Plain softball hands Maize South first losses
ANDALE Andale-Garden Plain got the challenge it wanted from unbeaten Maize South Thursday in a matchup of two of Class 4A’s top softball teams.
“Sometimes we’re not challenged enough, so it’s good to see we can come through when we need to,” coach Doris Hein said.
Andale swept Maize South 4-1, 6-3 to clinch the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV title.
The title wasn’t the emphasis for Andale, though.
“I don’t think we really focus on that stuff,” said Andale senior Erin Tice, who had two doubles, including a two-run double in the fifth inning of the second game that gave the Indians a three-run lead. “It’s a goal, but we just want to win, make sure we’re doing our job. It’s not our focus, league, it’s just something along the way.”
Andale senior Sydnee Eck threw a three-hitter in the first game, striking out seven. Andale also had RBI sacrifice flies from Kelsey Harlow and Rachel Eck.
Maize South opened the second game with a double from Taylor Mannis and a single by Jody Larson. Andale committed two errors and Maize South led 2-0 in the top of the first.
But Andale answered, capitalizing on three Maize South errors in the bottom half of the inning and scoring three runs. Eck’s run in the third on a Maize South error on a dropped third strike gave Andale the lead for good.
Andale pitcher Molly Hein got the win, holding Maize South scoreless over the final five innings.
“No facet of our game worked really well today,” Maize South coach Teri Larson said. “That’s really unlike us…. Yes we lost 4-1, 6-3 playing subpar. You look at that. We’re going to see them again (in the postseason).”
| Maize South | 001 | 000 | 0 | — | 1 3 3 |
| Andale-GP | 202 | 000 | x | — | 4 6 1 |
W — Eck. L — Sterneker.
| Maize South | 210 | 000 | 0 | — | 3 6 4 |
| Andale-GP | 301 | 020 | x | — | 6 5 2 |
W — Hein. L — Larson.