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Sports

Warhawks Can't Figure Out McLean's Bell

McLean pitcher strikes out 11 in seven innings

The defending Northern Region softball champions hung around with the defending AAA state champions for four innings. Unfortunately for the Madison Warhawks (2-2), softball calls for seven innings.

McLean and Madison were tied at one through four, but in the top of the fifth, McLean strung together four extra-base hits, including a two-run home run by junior Allison Wilhelm, to push the Highlanders ahead 5-1. McLean went on to win the Friday night game 5-2 to improve their record to 4-0.

The Warhawks had plenty of chances, pounding out 10 hits, but they left nine runners on base.

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“We didn’t do a good job with hitting with runners in scoring position,” Coach John Schneeberger said. “McLean’s a very, very good team. It came down to a couple plays. They made them and we didn’t. They took advantage of the breaks and we didn’t get the breaks. McLean has traditionally hit the ball well. And [Wilhelm] hits the home run and that’s big. That’s the game.”

Schneeberger But that inexperience didn’t stop freshmen second baseman Tori Lipnicky and third baseman Mary Bollinger from each going 2-for-4, with Bollinger driving in the tying run in the first inning on a double to right field.

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Senior pitcher Sam Brady delivered a valiant effort on the mound, while ill, through the first four innings. But in the fifth inning she wore down and surrendered the four runs, including the deflating Wilhelm homer. Brady finished the game pitching five innings, giving up five runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out two. She also went 4-for-4 at the plate.

“Sam’s a very, very competitive young lady,” Schneeberger said. “She didn’t do particularly well today; she still goes out there and hustles. The game came down to:  I think they got a break, they took advantage of it and we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had.”

Brady’s counterpart, McLean senior pitcher Jamie Bell, delivered an outstanding performance on the mound. Bell tossed a complete game, striking out 11 batters and grew stronger as the game went later into the night. She pitched her way out of a jam in the fourth inning, when the Warhawks loaded the bases with one out. Bell struck out junior infielder Nina Waters and then induced a ground out from senior catcher Em Fogel.

“She got ahead in the count, she threw strikes,” Schneeberger said of Bell’s performance. “She has good control of her pitches. Jamie’s one of the top two or three pitchers in the region. Last year I thought she was the big difference maker when [McLean] won the state championship. All I keep hearing is that she has a bad arm. It looked good to me.”

For Madison, senior outfield Michelle Mittel went 1-for-2 with a run scored. For McLean, Bell went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored and senior third baseman Jessie Straub went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

“I think we have the potential to get a lot better,” Schneeberger said of the Warhawks’ future. “And we have a good nucleus that we’re going to be good for three more years after this.”

Madison will host its next game against Thomas Jefferson at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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