Carlton, Hornets hold off hard-charging Mules to stay perfect

BERNIE – Over the past four varsity softball seasons, the Advance/Bell City program has won 54 games and advanced to the MSHSAA Class 1 State Semifinal, where the Hornets finished fourth in 2021. So, this is a program that is accustomed to playing in high-pressure situations.

That was evident on Monday, as the Hornets held off a furious seventh-inning, two-out rally by host Bernie for a 3-2 win.

“Down the stretch,” Hornet coach James Hamlin said following the victory, “we’ve got a few seniors and some older kids who have played a lot.”

Advance remained unbeaten through six games, and it did so as it has often done this spring, by riding the strong right arm of junior pitcher Addison Carlton.

Bernie (5-2) entered the contest averaging 11 runs per game, but Carlton limited the Mules to just a couple of hits.

“She is exceptional,” veteran Bernie coach Brad Botsch said. “She’s probably the best that we are going to see.”

That was the case through six innings, as Advance/Bell City took a 3-1 margin into the Mules’ final at-bat. However, the play of the Hornets began to wilt in that final inning.

Bernie sophomore Mikalyn Kirkwood took a 12-pitch lead-off at-bat against Carlton to open the seventh inning. In the plate appearance, Kirkwood fouled off four pitches, as she struggled to get around on the speed of Carlton, before finally drawing a walk.

Mule sophomore McKenzie Meese then reached on a Hornet miscue to put runners on first and second base.

Sophomore Kalli Mason loaded the bases for Bernie with a single before Carlton finally got consecutive strikeouts.

“We needed a timely hit,” Botsch said, “especially late. We had the bases loaded with nobody out, and the top of the order coming up.

“But we have to give credit to (Carlton).”

The Mules were able to cut their deficit to 3-2, as sophomore Lexi Dillinger reached on another Advance error, which scored Bernie pinch-runner Kerri Botsch.

“The (older players) are trying to do everything they can to hold it together,” Hamlin said of his young lineup, which features three freshmen and a couple of sophomores.

Bernie junior Kealea Powell ended the game by hitting a liner back at Carlton, who ended the game with a force out at home plate.

“Addi had missed (an earlier grounder),” Hamlin said, “and she wasn’t going to let another one go by, and she made sure we got that (final) out.”

Carlton threw a complete game and didn’t allow an earned run while walking four and striking out eight.

Offensively, Hornet senior Natalee Roper paced her team with a couple of hits and two RBI while Carlton (one hit, two runs, one walk), senior Kaylee Cline (one hit, one run, one RBI, one walk), senior Maggie Stubenrauch (one walk), freshman Maleaha Polley (one hit), and sophomore Ava Bowling (one hit) also contributed.

Carlton and Natalee Roper each had doubles while Bowling added a stolen base.

Mule sophomore Blair Pleimling also threw seven innings and allowed six hits, three earned runs, three walks, and struck out five.

Kirkwood had a hit and a walk while Mason (one hit, one walk), junior Macie Botsch (one run, one walk), and Dillinger (one walk) produced offensively.

The Mules will visit Winona (0-4) today at 4:30 p.m.

Advance/Bell City will travel to unbeaten Holcomb (6-0) today at 4:30 p.m.