H.S. Softball: Florence Falls in first round
AURORA • They appeared to be loose, in the right frame of mind, and their determination was palpable. Yet the pressure of competing in the first round of the Class 3A state softball tournament appeared to get the best of Florence in an 8-2 loss to Platte Valley on Thursday afternoon.
"This is a very young team,'' said Sheena Schaupp, one of three seniors. "So I think there were a lot of nerves.''
Trailing 2-1, the No. 16 seed Huskies (12-8) gave up a five-run fourth inning to fall out of contention.
Trouble started with two outs and a runner on third, courtesy of a double and a passed ball.
No. 17 Platte Valley's No. 9 batter, Katie Bowman, ripped a RBI single to right, ending the outing of junior starter Krista Koran.
Coach Kip Christensen pulled Koran for sophomore Davelynn Day, who walked the first batter she faced on four pitches. The next batter hit a spinning, sinking liner that sophomore second baseman Shauna Freeman tried to catch from her knees. The ball got by her, leaving the bases loaded.
While Day continued to struggle, Schaupp, the catcher, took a gamble, attempting a pickoff throw to second base, where Freeman, couldn't haul in the throw. The ball wound up in center field and another run scored.
Day walked the next two batters, the latter on consecutive pitches. Then, senior left fielder Nelly Lynch dropped a ball as it hit her glove and the Huskies trailed 7-1.
"They had less errors and they hit the ball more,'' said Schaupp of a Broncos squad that made 13 hits.
Christensen said: "They are a heck of a team.''
Platte Valley pitcher Megan Nierderkorn threw a six-hitter, without allowing a walk. She helped her cause with a pair of doubles.
Among the highlights for Florence: a 6-4-3 double play and RBIs by Freeman and sophomore outfielder Kelsi Conway.
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