KELLY WINS WITH EXTRA EFFORT

The Kelly and Cape Central girls softball teams worked overtime at Arena Park Thursday afternoon.

The Lady Hawks, making their season debut, plated two runs in the top of the eighth inning to pin a 3-1 loss on the Lady Tigers.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the eighth, Monica Senciboy ripped a leadoff double to deep left field to put the Lady Hawks in business. The next batter, Dana Essner, laid down a bunt which was fielded by pitcher Holly Schnurbusch, but her throw to first was mishandled, allowing Senciboy to come home with the tie-breaking run.

"I was really proud of her (Senciboy)," said Kelly coach Melanie Heuring of her sophomore third baseman. "She had struck out twice, but came back and got a big hit for us."

Essner later scored an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Bridgett Riley.

A pitcher's duel for the first seven innings, Cape Central's Schnurbusch and Kelly's Natalie Lewer matched each other pitch for pitch.

Both hurlers allowed six hits. Lewer had nine strikeouts and one walk, while Schnurbusch fanned three and walked none.

Kelly drew first blood in the second inning after second baseman Ashley Kern led off with a single. Kern moved to second on a fielder's choice and later scored on a two-base throwing error by Schnurbusch.

Cape Central (2-5) got its lone tally in the third frame.

Shortstop Trisha Klipfel drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a Schnurbusch hit. After an error by Lewer sent Klipfel to third, she scored the tying run on a throwing error by Kelly catcher Allison Johnson on a pickoff attempt.

Both teams displayed Jekyll and Hyde defenses.

There were several excellent plays made on both sides, but each team committed three errors that led to all four runs scored in the game being unearned.

Of the losing effort, Cape Central coach Amy Blattel said, "It's still early, we're young and we're getting better. That's the whole point. We are a good team; we just have to gain a little bit more confidence."

Sophomore Megan Kistner, the only Lady Tiger with multiple hits, had two. Kelly's six hits were distributed among six different players.