Hatchets Reach 1A Elite Eight

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Published on May 24 2019 7:51 pm
Last Updated on May 28 2019 6:49 am
Written by Greg Sapp

 

(THE WINDSOR/STEW-STRAS HATCHETS CELEBRATE FRIDAY AFTER RECEIVING THEIR SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAQUE)

The Windsor/Stew-Stras Hatchets are the defending Class 1A state softball champions.

They are playing as if they'd like to repeat.

The Hatchets defeated a Meridian Hawks team playing on Meridian's home field and with 28 wins on the season, 8-1, Friday afternoon. The game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com

The Hatchets displayed a combination of the long ball, good pitching and stellar defense to post the win and improve to 36-1-1 on the season.

Windsor/Stew-Stras struck first, scoring three runs in the first. Carson Cole led off the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Hannah Hayes. Megan Schlechte then hit a laser over the centerfield fence to make it 2-0. The only question was whether the ball would get high enough to get over the fence. One out later, Calla Roney blasted a ball over the leftfield fence and the Hatchets had a three-run lead right off the bat.

The Hatchets added a run in the second when leadoff hitter Ava Bennett was hit with a pitch. Maddy Pfeiffer singled and Katrina Davis then hit a ball that stayed in the infield but the fielder couldn't make a play and Bennett scored to make it 4-0.

Windsor/Stew-Stras put the game away in the fifth, scoring four runs. With one out, Schlechte drew a walk and stole second. Mackenzi Tabbert then homered to left to make it 6-0, but the Hatchets were done. With two outs, Karlie Bean singled, Bennett doubled and Pfeiffer doubled home both runners to make it 8-0.

Meridian scored their lone run in the sixth on a home run to right by Jesse Damery.

Calla Roney got the win, going five innings, and allowing no runs on four hits, walking one and fanning six. Schlechte pitched the sixth, allowing the home run and a single and striking out a batter. Bean pitched the seventh, hitting a batter and fanning two.

At the plate for the Hatchets, Carson Cole--walk, single, run; Hannah Hayes--sacrifice, single, stolen base; Megan Schlechte--home run, walk, stolen base, two runs scored, 2 RBI; Mackenzi Tabbert--home run, run scored, RBI; Calla Roney--home run, run scored, RBI; Karlie Bean--single, run scored; Ava Bennett--hit by pitch, double, two runs scored; Maddy Pfeiffer--single, double, 2 RBI; Katrina Davis--fielder's choice, walk.

Meridian finished its season with a 28-5 mark. 

Windsor/Stew-Stras will take on Hardin (Calhoun) in the 1A Super-Sectional for the second season in a row. Hardin (Calhoun) defeated Jacksonville Routt Friday, 11-0, to win the Jacksonville Routt sectional. Game time is 11am Monday at Land of Lincoln Special Olympics Softball Complex, just across from UI Springfield.

Class 1A Macon Meridian Sectional

Championship

Meridian                000    001    0    --    1-6-1

WSS                      310    040    x    --    8-8-1

WP -- Roney. LP -- Latham.

Macon Meridian -- Bowman, single, double; Damery, home run, 1 RBI; Hackert, single; Latham, single; Wise, single

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg -- Cole, single; Schlechte, home run, 2 RBI; Tabbert, home run, 2 RBI; Roney, home run, 1 RBI; Bean, single; Bennett, double; Pfeiffer, single, double, 2 RBI; Davis, 1 RBI