Staff photo by Jeff Meder New Ulm Cathedral pitcher Abbey Hillesheim delivers a pitch during a Tomahawk Conference softball game against Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart on Thursday at Harman Park in New Ulm.

By Jeff Meder

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM — New Ulm Cathedral shut out Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 11-0 on Thursday at Harman Park in a Tomahawk Conference softball game.

Ava Brennan drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first. She scored on Jenna Hotovec’s sacrifice for a 1-0 Cathedral lead.

Cathedral inflicted most of its damage in the bottom of the second inning. It sent nine batters to the plate which resulted in five runs. It was not a good inning for the Mustangs as they gave up three walks and they had one error. Kiah Helget’s triple brought in Margo Finstad and Ava Brennan. Cathedral led 6-0.

In the bottom of the third, Madelyn Haala’s leadoff triple to right field resulted in another Cathedral run. Haala scored on a BLHS wild pitch. It was 7-0 for Cathedral.

The Greyhounds continued to score runs in the fourth inning. Helget belted a single to center field started the rally. Hotovec’s right field double scored Helget. Jaylin Hartness walked. Alexa Hornick cracked a double to left-center field which scored Hotovec and Hartness. Hornick went to third on Sophie Netzke’s sacrifice. Jayde Altermatt’s single scored Hornick for Cathedral’s final run.

Abbey Hillesheim earned the win as she pitched four innings. She gave up no runs, two hits and she struck out five batters.

Ava Schmid went 2 for 2 with a double and one run scored for Cathedral. Madelyn Haala went 1 for 2 with a triple. Hornick was 1 for 2 with a double and two RBIs. Hotovec was 1 for 2 with a double and two RBIs.

Chloe Schultz took the loss for BLHS. She gave up five earned runs, eight hits, she walked six batters

and she had three strikeouts.

Sadie Kirtz went 1 for 2 and Kelsey UIrich went 1 for 2 for BLHS.

Cathedral (1-0, 1-0) will play at Springfield (4-0, 4-0) on Monday.