Softball Clinches Title Share, Wins 10th In A Row
By J.W. Campbell, Sportswriter
The Triad softball team earned at least a share of the Mississippi Valley Conference title on Wednesday, May 8 when the Lady Knights defeated Highland 2-1 in Troy.
In a game that went extra innings, the Knights scratched out the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The winning rally began with a walk to Isabelle Lehan. She was pinch run for by Kelsey Neace, who moved up to second on a single by Ella Moore and advanced to third on a bunt single by Sydney Wildhaber The lead runner scored when a throw to first on Wildhaber’s bunt ended up in right field.
Earlier in the game, Triad scored a run in the sixth and Highland matched that with a run in the top of the seventh.
Winning a pitchers’ duel was Triad’s Liz Young, who worked nine innings, allowing a run on six hits and three walks. She struck out six Highland hitters.
Taking the loss for the Bulldogs was Sam Miener, who was touched for two runs in 8 1/3 innings. She surrendered five hits and five walks, while striking out seven Triad batters.
Coming up with a hit and the only RBI of the game for Triad was Payton Bode. Adding a safety each for the Lady Knights were Jenna Bohnenstiehl, Caroline Lehan, Moore and Dallas Zirkelbach.
On Friday, May 10, the Lady Knights exploded for 13 runs late in the game to take 13-5 win over the Collinsville Kahoks.
The Kahoks held a 3-0 lead after four innings of play, but the Lady Knights struck for four runs in the fifth, six in the sixth and three in the seventh to win the game pulling away.
Triad profited from four Collinsville errors in the game.
Leading the Triad attack with three hits and three runs scored was Bohnenstiehl. She had an RBI and two doubles in the game as well.
Driving in two runs each for the Lady Knights were Shiane Taylor and Ella Moore.
Adding a hit and a run batted in apiece were Bode and Isabelle Lehan.
Moore started the game for the Lady Knights. She went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. She had three strike outs.
Young finished the game for Triad. She gave up three runs on two hits.
Non-conference play continued for the Lady Knights on Monday, May 13 when they thumped the Granite City Warriors 19-0 at Triad. In a game that ended after five inning, the Lady Knights outhit their opponents 14-6.
Bode and Bohnenstiehl were the hitting stars for Triad, with each driving in four runs in the contest. Bohnenstiehl went 4-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. One of her hits was a triple. Bode enjoyed a 2-for-4 day with two doubles and four RBIs.
Young had three hits, a run scored and two runs batted in for the Lady Knights. Two of her hits were doubles.
Scoring two runs each for Triad were Caroline Lehan, Isabelle Lehan, Moore, Neace, Taylor, Wildhaber and Zirkelbach.
Three Triad pitchers combined for the shutout of Granite City. Young started and got the win for the Lady Knights with Malorey Kessinger and Moore each pitching in relief. Granite City hitters walked just once and struck out just once in the game.
The latest wins extends the Lady Knights current winning streak to 10 games and boost the Triad record to 19-5 for the year.
Triad was slated to host Civic Memorial on Wednesday, May 15. Results of that game were not available at press time. On Thursday, May 16, Triad was scheduled to take on Murphysboro before traveling to Waterloo for a conference game against the Bulldogs on Friday, May 17.
The Lady Knights are scheduled to begin Class 3A regional action on Tuesday, May 21 against the winner of a play-in game between Mascoutah and Civic Memorial. Triad is the top-seeded team in the CM regional, which will be played at the Bethalto Sports Complex.
Other teams in the regional are Freeburg and Waterloo. The regional final is slated for Friday, May 24.
