By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
It was a tough Saturday for the Guerin Catholic softball team, although the Golden Eagles can hold their heads high after how they played at the Class 3A Hamilton Heights Sectional 24.
Guerin won a 10-inning semi-final over Jay County 3-0 in a game that was pushed back to Saturday afternoon. Then, the Golden Eagles took on a big-hitting Tipton team in the championship, playing well against the Blue Devils.
It took Tipton a two-out single in the seventh inning to finally push across the winning run for a 3-2 victory. Guerin Catholic finished its season 11-15, although that was against a tough schedule.
“They played great, fantastic,” said GC coach Ed Collins of his team.
The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Golden Eagles answered back right away, scoring twice in the top of the sixth. Julie Gallina hit a single to get on base, then Guerin loaded the bases, with Madelyn Buckner getting on base after being hit by a pitch, and Hanna Bills walking on to first.
That brought up Shelby Miller, and she singled to send Gallina home. Later, Kelby Sullivan reached on an error, but that enabled Bills to score and tie the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Tipton nearly won the game with one out, but the Golden Eagles threw out a runner at home. But the Blue Devils’ Lexi Altherr made it to third, and a single by Makenzie Stillson got her home.
“We executed where we needed to execute and we just came up short,” said Collins. “That’s what it comes down, too.”
Miller finished the day 2-for-3 and pitched a complete game, giving up just five hits.
In the semi-final game, Guerin Catholic and the Patriots were scoreless through nine innings. But the Golden Eagles finally broke through with one out in the top of the 10th.
Bills singled in Gallina to get the first run, then Miller drove a double into right field to score Bills. Finally, Kelby Sullivan hit a single to get Miller home. That made the score 3-0, and Miller pitched a perfect bottom of the 10th to clinch the victory.
Miller had a dominant game: She went 5-for-5, which is amazing enough, but all five of her hits were doubles. In the circle, Miller threw all 10 innings, striking out 10. Gallina, Collins and Sullivan all had two hits, with one of Gallina’s hits a double.
Guerin Catholic 3,
Jay County 0
(10 innings)
Guerin AB R H RBI
Julie Gallina 5 1 2 0
Madelyn Buckner 4 0 0 0
Hanna Bills 5 1 1 1
Sarah Miller 5 1 5 1
Megan Collins 5 0 2 0
Kelby Sullivan 5 0 2 1
Megan Wiitala 0 0 0 0
Kate Swift 3 0 0 0
Jackie Sapienza 1 0 0 0
Caitlin Collins 4 0 1 0
Olivia Nystrom 3 0 0 0
Totals 40 3 13 3
Score by innings
Guerin 000 000 000 3 – 3 13 0
Jay County 000 000 000 0 – 0 6 1
2B: Miller 5, Gallina. SB: M. Collins 2, Wiitala. SAC: Buckner, Nystrom.
GC pitching IP R ER H
Miller 10 0 0 6
Strikeouts: Miller 10. Walks: Miller 1.
Tipton 3, Guerin Catholic 2
Guerin AB R H RBI
Julie Gallina 4 1 1 0
Madelyn Buckner 2 0 0 0
Hanna Bills 2 1 0 0
Sarah Miller 3 0 2 1
Megan Collins 2 0 0 0
Kelby Sullivan 2 0 1 1
Megan Wiitala 0 0 0 0
Kate Swift 2 0 0 0
Jackie Sapienza 1 0 0 0
Caitlin Collins 3 0 0 0
Olivia Nystrom 3 0 0 0
Totals 24 2 4 2
Score by innings
Guerin 000 002 0 – 2 4 4
Tipton 000 020 1 – 3 5 0
SAC: M. Collins. HBP: Buckner.
GC pitching IP R ER H
Miller 6.2 3 1 5
Strikeouts: Miller 3. Walks: Miller 2.