Twin Cedars won on both diamonds in the battle for Southern Marion County on Thursday night as the softball Sabers won in three innings 12-0 while the baseball Sabers took down Melcher-Dallas 5-2. On the softball diamond the Sabers scored two in the 1st, three in the 2nd inning and slammed the door shut in the 3rd with seven runs to invoke the 12 runs after three innings mercy rule. Grace Bailey’s short night added up to just nine batters faced allowing one hit, three strikeouts and no walks getting the win. Coach Zack Dunkin told KNIA/KRLS Sports after a pep talk about their approach at the plate, his team had better at bats to end the game.
Dunkin: “Called them together after that defensive inning in the second, and told them they needed to focus more. Kisha Reed started that inning with a line drive that she stretched a single into a double because she hustled and that set the tone for that inning.”
Bailey went 2/3 and helped her own cause by getting two RBI, Chloe Durian was also 2/3 with an RBI. Melcher-Dallas Coach Emilie Krpan told KNIA Sports while the loss was disappointing, her team was getting the bat on the ball.
Krpan: “I think one of the biggest things we can take away even though we got through the line up one was we were getting the bat on the ball and we were hitting Bailey which was a big step for them.”
Payton Anderson got the only hit for Melcher-Dallas while BriAnna Remster took the loss striking out three. At the same time, the baseball Sabers were playing Melcher-Dallas and ended up taking the game 5-2. The big inning for the Sabers was the 4th when they put three runs across as they stretched a 2-1 lead to 5-1. Kasey Clark was 3/3 with a walk. Coach Mark Schroeder told KNIA/KRLS Sports that while his team did not play the cleanest game, it was a game that they will chalk up with a win.
Schroeder: “Less strikeouts which was nice, so we were putting the ball in play, and they had some errors that we took advantage of. I wouldn’t say we earned it, but we’ll take it.”
Dallas Clarke got the win going three innings giving just one hit on one run and striking out six, while Kasey Clark got the save. Logan Godfrey and Cole Metz got the two hits for Melcher-Dallas with Metz getting an RBI. Coach Pat Ferguson tells KNIA Sports not making the routine play did his team in.
Ferguson: “I hoped it was the first game jitters. I’ve said this as long as I’ve been here we have to make the routine play. We make errors, the defense stays on the field, the pitcher has to throw more pitches, and it’s just a snowball effect.”
Owen Suntken took the loss going four innings giving up five runs on seven hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Melcher-Dallas is 0-1e while softball is 1-1. Both Saints squads head to Moravia tonight. Twin Cedars Baseball is 1-3 and softball is 1-1. Softball will host Orient-Macksburg tonight.