ND's Schott makes most of promotion

Notre Dame softball player Britney Schott made the most of her first varsity start Saturday in the third-place game of the Jackson Tournament at the Shawnee Sports Complex.

Bulldogs manager Jeff Graviett can be excused for misspelling Schott's first name on the lineup card. Schott was not even listed on the roster in the program. as the freshman was recently brought up from the junior varsity where she was a standout as a leadoff hitter.

"Britney has good speed and is a good slapper," Graviett said. "We gave her the opportunity Saturday and she took advantage with some good at-bats."

Graviett inserted the Schott into the No. 2 spot in the Bulldog lineup in the third-place game against St. Louis Notre Dame. She followed offensive catalyst Cortney Ostendorf and preceeded big hitters Kristain Burger and Miranda Schlosser.

Schott played her role to perfection, as she was right in the middle of both scoring innings for the Bulldogs.

Ostendorf started the game with a walk and Schott moved her over with a bunt. Schott reached base on a throwing error by Rebels third baseman Kristin Taylor. Ostendorf and Schott both scores to help the Bulldogs answer the Rebels' two runs in the top of the first inning.

What looked like a slugfest settled into a pitching and defensive battle. Rebels ace Kelly Bauer shut the door on the Bulldogs after coming into the game in the fourth inning. She had allowed only one base runner before walking Heather Menz to open the bottom of the seventh.

Cortney Ostendorf was unsuccessful in moving Menz over to second with a bunt, but Schott did her job on a third-strike bunt attempt.

"Coach told me he was going to give me three chances so I knew I would be bunting even with two strikes," Schott said. "I knew I had to get it down with some good hitters coming up."

Schott's bunt turned out to be the game-winning play, as Taylor again threw the ball past first base and Menz circled the bases to provide the winning run in a 3-2 Bulldog triumph.

"I was kind of surprised when I got called up to the varsity," said Schott, who was used exclusively as a pinch runner in her first several varsity games. "I was excited when I found out I was going to start this game and it turned out well."

A simple thing as a well-executed bunt can often be the difference in a tight high school softball game.

"The intention was to get the runner into scoring position with our three and four hitters coming up," Graviett said. "We didn't expect to win the game with a bunt but sometimes you have to manufacture a run when a good pitcher is on the mound and we had not had an answer to the girl who came in."