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Softball team storms back for 7-6 win
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Wednesday, 11 June 2008
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Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
Mother Nature announced her arrival at last week’s state softball tournament in Mankato, and her mere presence caused the Minnesota State High School League to adjust and alter its original schedule.
Before Forest Lake would have the opportunity to face Stillwater in Friday’s consolation finals, the MSHSL decided to cancel that part of the tourney, giving the Rangers and the Ponies a share of the consolation title.
But in classic Rangers style, just getting to the championship took a heaping helping of suspense. Down 6-0 to Hastings, with only four outs left to use, Forest Lake’s offense finally kicked in and allowed the girls to stage a remarkable 7-6, come-from-out-of-nowhere victory.
The first two innings of this contest were played on Thursday, June 5, but then the wind and the rain pushed everything to Friday. When the two Suburban East Conference schools rejoined Thursday’s broadcast, it was the Raiders who would use a solo home run in the fourth to start the scoring.
After a long stretch of watching her team play solid defense, Forest Lake head coach Angie Ryan was surprised to see her squad fall apart in the fifth inning.
The Rangers had two errors, while pitcher Alyssa Dunrud gave up a walk and two hits. Hastings took advantage of the miscues and put four more runs on the board.
Mired in a 5-0 hole in the sixth inning, the Rangers shoddy defense led to one more Raiders run, thereby creating the less-than-ideal, six-run deficit.
But in the bottom of the inning, Forest Lake’s Kate Nolden delivered a pinch hit, where she was eventually replaced at first base by Sammy Holien. Now it was time for a two-out offensive eruption.
Kathy Crudo, Krystal Plouff, Jess Skogen, Dunrud and Kelsey Taylor all came through with singles, which sent Holien, Crudo, Plouff, Mikki Modjeski (running for Skogen), Dunrud, and Taylor Burmeister (running for Taylor) around the bases to make it 6-5.
Hastings couldn’t score in the top of the seventh, giving the Rangers one last chance.
Lexi Alm bunted her way to first with one out, then Crudo moved her to second on a ground ball.
Down by one. Two outs. Bottom of the final inning. One runner on base.
In what would be the last at-bat of her high school career, Plouff (an All-Tournament selection) had two strikes against her when she smacked the unbelievable, improbable, impossible, two-run, walk-off homer to give Forest Lake the 7-6 victory.
“We tried to give them the game early on, but it was just in effort to make the game more dramatic with this awesome come from behind win,” Ryan shared.
“We’re all disappointed with the MSHSL and their lack of desire to play out the consolation championship game. It is great though to go out with a win and to see the seniors have a smile on their faces after their season ended.”
Scarlets 3, Rangers 0
In the opening round against Mankato West, it was the Scarlets pitcher, Ashley Veroeven, who would get the game-winner in the very first inning. Her solo shot gave her team a 1-0 lead, and Forest Lake was never able to present much of a challenge from the plate.
Mankato West added two more runs in the fourth, and that’s how the morning would end.
“Our defense was outstanding in this game; we made all of the plays,” Ryan said. “We also hit the ball hard consistently throughout the game, but never got anything going offensively.”
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