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Knights, Greyhounds split doubleheader in Sleepy Eye

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Jody Hansen of Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s waits for the ball as New Ulm Cathedral’s Rose Hazuka slides into third during the first game of a doublheader Thursday in Sleepy Eye.

By Jeremy Reinarts

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE — New Ulm Cathedral defeated Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 7-4 in Game 1 of a Tomahawk Conference doubleheader.

St. Mary’s, however, earned a section win with a 6-1 victory in Game 2.

Josie Pautzke earned the win for the Greyhounds (12-1, 8-0), by pitching the distance with eight strikeouts and an intentional walk to pitch around the Knights’ (13-1, 5-1) batting order.

The Greyhounds struck first in Game 1 with two runs in the top half of the first inning with three hits and scored a run on a passed ball.

Guggisberg singled to reach with one out in the first, advancing to third from a Pautzke single up the middle. Rose Hazuka’s single into left scored Guggisberg and advanced another runner to third still with one away.

“It definitely gives a sense of comfort, with a little cushioned, to know that we can do this, we can hit and get runners on base,” Pautzke said.

A passed ball delivered by St. Marys’ Leah Weiss brought the second run in for Cathedral before the defense behind her produced outs and got out of the inning.

Weiss pitched seven innings for the Knights with two strikeouts and 12 Greyhound hits as the losing pitcher in Game 1.

The Greyhounds put a big number on the scoreboard in the third, scoring four runs from four hits to open a 6-0 lead.

Pautzke helped her own cause by drilling a first pitch two-run shot over the left-field fence with no outs in the third for the first runs of the inning.

“When I see the pitch I want to hit, I swing at it,” Pautzke said. “Coach Jamie has really worked with me to turn my hips and open up on the pitch.”

Cathedral pulled off a delayed steal to record another run in the inning when Jenna Helget slow played her attempt from third, waiting for teammate Heidi Hoffman to take off from first. Knights catcher Ali Beltz fired a throw to get the runner at second as the speedy Jenna Helget beat the throw back to home from a tough throwing position by Jody Hansen.

St. Marys’ offensive play awoke in the bottom half of the third when the Knights filled the bases from two hits and an intentional walk to Beltz. Mallory Helget took a 1-2 count to the right-center field gap, bringing in all three runs and reached second base with the stand-up double.

“Good for Mallory to get herself into that situation with the bases loaded and going with the pitch,” Knights coach Wendy Owens said. “It was awesome to see her pull that with a 1-2 count on her, getting the base hit and the double is just the bonus.”

The Knights added one more run in the seventh and stranded two runners in scoring position as the Greyhounds held on to win the conference matchup during the doubleheader.

“We knew we had to come here and out play them to get the big win, Pautzke pitched a phenomenal game with not having one walk except for the intentional and nine strikeouts while she helped her own cause in the third inning,” Cathedral coach Jamie Portner said.

In Game 2, Cathedral put the first runner across as the home team, with Hazuka reaching on a single followed by a Lily Franta single and a sacrifice bunt placed by Jenna Helget, putting both runners in scoring position. Hazuka scored on a throwing error and Franta was thrown out at home as the Knights’ defense supported Weiss in the circle.

Beltz doubled in the third inning on a bloop hit into left and not hesitating to round first base. Mallory Helget drove in the run with a line shot into right and advanced on the play at the plate.

Hoffman took the loss for the Greyhounds, pitching five innings with five walks and eight Knights hits.

St. Mary’s put a five spot on the scoreboard from three hits, two walks and one error charged to Hoffman. Jody Hansen and Cassie Heinrichs each had two-RBI singles, and Mallory Helget drove in a run to end the scoring for both teams in the five-inning game.

Leah Weiss took the win, for St. Mary’s, pitching five innings, giving up six hits with two strikeouts.

Franta led the Greyhounds going 2 for 2 and Hazuka was 1 for 2 scoring the lone run.

Mallory Helget went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs for the Knights.

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