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Pirates beat Culdesac again
A bases-loaded triple by Tiffany Schaeffer broke open a close game and the Prairie softball 
team went on to beat Culdesac 9-3 Tuesday, April 24 on Senior Night at
Cottonwood.
The win clinched at least a share of the league championship for Prairie as they have a 2-game lead on second place with 2 games to play. Seniors Tabitha Seubert, Carolyn Sonnen, Kylie Uhlorn and Meghan VanderPas were honored before the game and with banners on the outfield fence. Prairie scored in the first inning when Meghan VanderPas hit a 2-out triple to the fence in left field and scored on Carolyn Sonnen’s single to right. It was still 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Brooke Holthaus hit a 1-out single to left with Alena Hoene going in as a courtesy runner. After a second out Kylie Uhlorn beat out an infield single and Kim Schaeffer walked to load the bases. Rachel Kaschmitter then beat out an infield single with Hoene scoring on the play.  Next
came Tiffany Schaeffer and she hit the ball deep to left center to clear
the bases and make it 5-0. She might’ve beat the throw home if she’d gone
for the grand slam homer but coach Travis Mader, having had Culdesac throw
out his runners in the past, held Schaeffer at third. She scored anyway
when Kara Guyer followed with a single up the middle to make it 6-0 after
4 innings. All six runs having come after 2 were out.
Culdesac picked up their first run when their #8 hitter connected for a line drive to left. Carolyn Sonnen almost made the catch but wound up letting the ball get through her for a single and 3-base error as the Culdesac hitter circled the bases. Culdesac added 2 more runs in the fifth inning on a triple, dropped popup and double to cut the lead to 6-3. Prairie got those runs back though in the bottom of the sixth. Kaschmitter hit a 1-out single up the middle and Tiffany Schaeffer walked. Guyer then drove in both runners with a triple to the fence in right field. Guyer was then put out at home as she attempted to steal on a passed ball. Meghan VanderPas walked and stole second and scored when Hilaree VanderPas’ pop-up to first was dropped for an error. Meghan VanderPas allowed just 4 hits while striking out 11 and walking 2. After allowing the third run and 4th hit to the Wolves, she proceeded to strike out 5 of the last six batters she faced. Prairie had 10 hits in the game with Guyer collecting a triple and single, Kaschmitter and Brooke Holthaus, 2 singles each, Tiffany Schaeffer and Meghan VanderPas a triple each and Sonnen and Uhlorn a single each. With the win Prairie improves to 12-0 in league play and 19-2 overall. The win was their 14th straight. Culdesac 0 0 0 0 1 2 0—3 4 2 Prairie 1 0 0 5 0 3 x—9 10 2 
District Tournament starts Saturday at Cottonwood The District II 1-A Softball Tournament starts Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at the Wimer Ballfields in Cottonwood. Prairie will is the likely #1 seed as they had beaten second place Troy both times they played and had a 2-game lead with 2 games yet to play. As the #1 seed Prairie will play at 10 a.m. against the #8 seed, likely Lewis County. They would play again right away, win or lose against either the #4 or #5 seeded team. If they win both games Saturday they won’t play again until Tuesday, May 8 at 5 p.m. in the championship game. The loser of the championship game plays again on Thursday, May 10 at 5 p.m. in the second place game. The top 2 teams advance to state. PHS Softball Schedule May 5, 8, 10-District at Prairie - Prairie plays Lewis County at 10 a.m. to open the tournament then will play again right afterward at about noon. 18-19-State at Lewiston |
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