Lady Knights Cruise Past St. Clair

http://www.emissourian.com/sports/article_4cb6bf90-da70-5204-b64f-65555ab4bb8e.html

When Borgia rallied, it did so in a huge way Thursday in the Class 3 District 9 softball semifinals in St. Clair.

Borgia (15-9) spotted St. Clair the first run of the game at Sullivan’s Campbell-Chapman Complex, but came back with nine of its own in the bottom of the first. Borgia scored once in the second.

St. Clair (6-17) scored twice in the third, but Borgia put together an eight-run bottom of the inning to end the game on the mercy rule.

“We really didn’t expect that,” said Borgia Head Coach Stan Westhoff. “They started off with that 1-0 lead in the first inning and we were watching their good hitters have really good at-bats. Then, we’ve never erupted like this the entire season. We hit like we haven’t hit all season. We had bases-loaded triple, bases-loaded double, bases-loaded singles. We had some clutch hits with two outs. We kept our hitting shoes on and kept our focus.”

Borgia advanced to face top-seeded Sullivan in the title contest Friday afternoon in Sullivan. The winner plays Wednesday in sectional competition.

“We’re going to try to ride some momentum going into the championship game,” Westhoff said.

“I really thought we would be in the game and have a chance to win,” said St. Clair Head Coach Greg Dunigan. “One play in the first inning and it went downhill from there.”

The 18-run outburst was not the first time Borgia had reached that mark this season. Borgia beat Bayless, 18-0, Sept. 6 and won 19-0 Monday at Hermann.

Borgia had several hitting stars in the game.

Hannah Clemons had two hits with a double, two RBIs and two walks. Chelsea Kleekamp, running for Clemons, scored two runs.

The rest of the starters each had one hit.

Taylor Nadler had a triple, two runs and four RBIs.

Kelli Arens scored twice and drove in two.

Cali Witte scored once.

Betsy Alfermann scored twice, drove in four and walked.

Elizabeth Westhoff scored twice, drove in two and was hit by a pitch.

Amber Blumenfeld scored twice and walked twice.

Kimberly Patke had three runs, two walks and a stolen base.

“They scored every run with two outs in the whole game,” said Dunigan. “Give credit to Borgia for that.”

St. Clair had some highlights. In the third, Anna Reed belted a double to deep left field to plate Nicole Nardi. Reed then stole third base and scored on a hit by Marissa Laubinger.

Alicia York and Nardi also had one hit for the Lady Bulldogs.

“We were glad we didn’t have to face the top half of their lineup more than twice,” said Westhoff. “We know they’re a very dangerous team with some very dangerous hitters. Even though the score doesn’t look like it, St. Clair’s a team you don’t take lightly. They’ve scored a lot of runs this year and seven girls are hitting .333 or higher this season.”