Baker upsets Mariner
The rally began with a bad hop. The good fortune was the last thing the Ida Baker Bulldogs expected in a season filled with setbacks.
They weren’t about to let the opportunity slip away.
“It seems like everything that could go wrong has gone wrong,” said Bulldogs senior Caitlin Holloway. “Finally something went right.”
It took more than luck for the sixth-seeded Bulldogs to knock off third-seed and host Mariner 6-3 Tuesday night in a District 5A-15 softball quarterfinals game.
Senior Jamie Ross came through with a clutch RBI single and Holloway followed with a two-run single, capping a four-run top of the seventh.
The Tritons held a 3-2 lead entering the seventh, but the pressure mounted quickly when Baker’s Katie Rieser hit a grounder to second that kicked into right field, putting the leadoff runner on.
“It looked like it hit a divot,” Mariner coach Bill Stoudt said.
The Bulldogs (14-11) continued with a bunt single by senior Christie Larrimore and another intriguing play came two batters later when Baker’s Shanelly Brown collided at first with Mariner’s Samantha Rapp.
Brown hit a grounder to third and the throw to first forced Rapp off the bag while simultaneously making contact with Brown. It allowed Rieser to score from third, tying it 3-3.
A walk by Allie Hare and consecutive hits by Ross and Holloway put the Bulldogs in front.
“It took a lot of heart,” Baker coach Morgan Klare said. “We had 13 working for one goal.”
It was a disappointing finish for the Tritons (15-8). Ironically, the Tritons rallied to beat the Bulldogs 8-5 in their previous meeting.
They also had won three games last weekend to claim first place in their bracket in the Longshore Classic in Naples.
“We had a nice climax, winning the Longshore Classic, and thought we could carry that into this game,” Stoudt said, “but you have to play all seven innings.”
The Tritons took the lead in the bottom of the first. Senior Brooke Albert got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, making it 1-0.
The Bulldogs tied it 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single by senior Kayla Vetter, but the Tritons went back in front, 3-1, on a two-run double by Rapp in the bottom of the fourth.
It wasn’t enough to hold off the Bulldogs, who have continued to try and overcome a rash of injuries.
Holloway played with her finger wrapped Tuesday after getting injured during the Longshore Classic. She remained effective, going 2-for-4, and making two clutch grabs in center field in the sixth and seventh innings.
Larrimore played an all-around strong game at shortstop. Vetter finished with a complete game on the mound.
The Tritons were led defensively by Albert, who made several running and diving catches in center field, and Samantha Greenwell at third base.
The Bulldogs advance to face second-seeded Fort Myers at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Fort Myers.
Ida Baker 000 101 4 – 6 9 1
Mariner 100 200 0 – 3 10 2
W – Vetter. L – Grigiski
2B – Rapp (M).
North Fort Myers 11, Lehigh 0: North Fort Myers wasted little time taking charge, scoring four runs in the first inning and four more in the third en route to a five-inning shutout victory over Lehigh.
Katrissa Rowell, Alyssa Dougherty, Kayla Ramey and Lexi Schlotter contributed two hits apiece toward the Red Knights’ 12-hit assault. Jackie Owen pitched three innings, allowing one hit and striking out six, to pick up her 18th win on the mound.
The Red Knights (22-3) face Barron Collier, a 4-0 winner over Gulf Coast, in the 5A-15 semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fort Myers High.
Lehigh000 00 – 0 2 3
North Ft. Myers414 2x – 11 12 0
W – Jackie Owen (18-3). L – Galagarza.
2B – Lexi Schlotter (NFM). 3B – Kayla Ramey (NFM).