Published: July 16, 2008 10:50 am            

Trojans lose heartbreaker at state

Preston falls 1-0 to Newell-Fonda on walk-off bunt

FORT DODGE — For the second year in a row, the Preston Trojans saw their bid for a state softball championship come to an end by a 1-0 score and for a second year in a row, the lone run against them came in the bottom of the seventh inning.

In 2007, Preston lost to eventual state champion Highland in a regional championship by a 1-0 score.

On Tuesday, the Trojans fell to Newell-Fonda by the same score in an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal at Fort Dodge’s Rogers Sports Complex after the Mustangs produced the game-winning run in the last half of the final frame.

Newell-Fonda’s Karina Overgaard scored from second on a Kelly Johnson bunt to plate the deciding run.

Overgaard reached second on a double to left center to give the Mustangs just their second hit of the evening as Big Conference MVP, Kelcie Bormann, pitched six innings with one hit and 11 strikeouts.

The next batter, Ellen Gruntorad, popped out to Preston shortstop Megan Zeimet for the first out.

With Overgaard on second and one out, Newell-Fonda head coach Dick Jungers gave Johnson the bunt sign.

Johnson laid down a bunt to the first base side of the pitcher’s circle and Kelcie Bormann threw to first, but Johnson beat out the throw as Jungers sent Overgaard for home.

By the time the Trojans realized Overgaard hadn’t held up at third it was too late and the winning run had crossed the plate to end the game.

Preston head coach Tim Zeimet gave Jungers credit for making the high-risk play of sending Overgaard for home on the bunt.

“Kudos to them,” Zeimet said. “I’ve done that and got caught this year. I did it and we lost, so it’s a risk, but they were able to score on it. I can’t blame the girls for that play.”

Preston freshman Kelcie Bormann and Newell-Fonda junior Lauren Devereaux engaged in a classic pitcher’s duel as the pair combined to give up just six hits in the game. Devereaux struck out six, while Bormann had 11.

The Trojans had a runner on base in the first inning as lead-off hitter, Haley Andresen reached on an error by Newell-Fonda centerfielder Katelyn Laursen.

The next batter, Korrisa Daniels, attempted to lay down a bunt, but the ball popped up to Devereaux for the first out.

Andresen then attempted to steal second and was thrown out by catcher Susan Kies.

Preston had a scoring threat in the second as Kelcie Bormann recorded the game’s first hit with a single to center field.

Senior Lauryn Camp popped out to third base for the first out.

With Tiffany Bormann batting, Kelcie Bormann advanced to second on a passed ball.

The Mustangs put the clamps on the Trojan’s scoring threat as Devereaux struck out Whitney Bormann and threw out Alicia Lane on a comebacker to the rubber.

Preston had another baserunner in the third as Andresen reached first on an infield hit with one out. The next two batters popped out to end the inning, though.

The Mustangs first baserunner came in the bottom of the fourth when Gruntorad struck out, but reached first base on a dropped third strike. Andresen, the catcher, redeemed herself two batters later as she threw out Gruntorad trying to steal second.

The next batter Newell-Fonda would put on base would be Overgaard in the seventh in what would prove to be the game’s winning run.

Whitney Bormann gave the Trojans their most substantial threat of the game in the fifth inning.

She started the inning by singling on a rope down the left field line, then pinch runner, Emily Henningsen, reached second on a passed ball.

Henningsen made it to third on a Jordan Feddersen groundout to second base.

With two outs, Andresen popped out with a high, long ball to center field to end the threat.

Preston never had a runner past first base the rest of the way.

Zeimet felt his team had some chances to score, but just could not come through with the hits when they needed them.

“We had opportunities, we just couldn’t get them home when we had people on base,” Zeimet said. “We had chances in the first, second, third, fifth and sixth; but we just could not execute. We couldn’t get the hits or the bunts when we needed them.”

Zeimet was pleased with the overall performance of his young team in the program’s first ever state tournament appearance. The Trojans feature just one senior, third baseman Lauryn Camp, and regularly start three sophomores and four freshmen.

“I’m happy with the girls’ effort today,” Zeimet added. “They did their best and we’re young and they will learn from this. This is a great atmosphere for them to play in and we’ve still got a couple games left.”

With the loss, the Trojans will move to the consolation side of the Class 1A bracket. Preston will take on Southeast Webster-Grand at 10 a.m. today. Southeast Webster-Grand fell to defending state champion Highland by a 4-2 score.

The Trojans fell to 24-12 with the loss, while Newell-Fonda improved to 33-9.

The Mustangs will face Highland tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in a state semifinal.

Score by Innings

Preston 000 000 0 —0 3 0

Newell-Fonda 000 000 1 —1 3 2

Kelcie Bormann and Haley Andresen. Lauren Devereaux and Susan Kies.

2B—N-F, Katrina Overgaard. RBI—N-F, Kelly Johnson.

Records—Preston 24-12; Newell-Fonda 33-9.

Next game—Preston vs. Southeast Webster-Grand, 10 a.m. today.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.