Prep Softball: Menahga knocks off Sebeka in softball opener, 9-6

Amelia Pho went 2-for-4 with a triple and Lindsey White struck out eight as Menahga opened the season with a 9-6 victory over Sebeka in Park Region Conference play Thursday.

Sebeka struck first in the top of the opening stanza as Katianne Brockpahler led off with a single, stole second and Katie Huttunen followed with a triple to score Brockpahler. Two outs later, the Lady Trojans made it 2-0 when Kendra Steinke plated Huttunen with a base hit.

Menahga answered in their bottom half with a run as Lindsey White was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. The senior was replaced by pinch runner Beth Tormanen, who proceed steal second and then scored two batters later on an error.

The Lady Braves erupted to score five runs in the second inning with two outs behind a pair of doubles, a triple and three Sebeka errors.

Menahga’s Haley Hotakainen led off the inning with a double to right field. After a fly out to left, Steinke surrendered a walk to put two runners on. The next Menahga batter flew out to right field, but a Sebeka infield error allowed White to reach base and score Hotakainen. Tarah Cleveland followed in the order with a two-run double in the left-center gap; Joy Haataja reached on another Lady Trojan infield error and scored on Amelia Pho’s triple to left field to cap the Lady Braves’ outburst.

Down 6-2, Sebeka would chip away at the Lady Braves’ lead with a run in the third when Katie Huttunen tripled to score Brett Brockpahler. In the fourth the Lady Trojans would use a double by Carly Brockpahler and singles by Huttunen and Jessica Lillquist to score two runs.

With Menahga holding on to a 6-5 lead, the Lady Trojans tied the game in the top of the sixth as Katianne Brockpahler led off the frame with a single. The senior swiped her third base of the game, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lillquist.

The Lady Braves answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to put the game away. Maria Tormanen started the Menahga rally with an one-out single. She stole second and advanced to third on White’s single up the middle. Beth Tormanen, who was pinch running for White, ended up picking up her fourth stolen base to put runners in scoring position.

An errant throw by the Lady Trojans shortstop on Cleveland’s grounder provided the game-winning run, as both Tormanen sisters came across and Cleveland ended up at third. Haataja capped the rally with a RBI-groundout.

Sebeka put two runners on base in the top of the seventh, but White slammed the door shut on the Lady Trojans with two strikeouts and getting Jasmine Titcomb to hit into a fielders choice.

“It was a great game to start the season.” Sebeka coach Jon Lillquist said. “You come to expect some errors as it was our first time stepping on a field so we should improve in that department as I wouldn't expect us to have too many games with six errors.”

Menahga was led by senior shortstop Amelia Pho, who scattered two hits including a triple and drove in a run. Cleveland had a double and two RBI’s and Hotakainen also had a double for the Lady Braves as they scattered nine hits in the victory.

Sebeka had four players with multiple hits with Katianne Brockpahler, Huttunen, Steinke and Logan Redetzke each getting two. Both Huttunen and Steinke hit triples for the Lady Trojans and drove in a pair of runs.

“Menahga has a strong softball program with state tournament experience and one of the top pitchers around so I was very impressed with our offense to score six runs and get 11 hits.” Lillquist added. “Our pitchers threw strikes and that's huge if you can do that game in and game out. We take many positives out of this game, but also realize we need to get a lot better on defense to win tough games like this."

White earned the win on the mound for the Lady Braves. The senior went the distance and allowed three earned runs on 11 hits, walked two and struck out eight. Steinke allowed four hits, two earned runs and struck out two in three innings for Sebeka to take the loss.

Menahga (1-0) hosts New York Mills while the Lady Trojans (0-1) entertain Ottertail Central in Park Region Conference doubleheaders on Tuesday (April 12). Both games are scheduled for 4 p.m.

Sebeka at Menahga on April 7
Lady Braves 9, Lady Trojans 6
Sebeka 2 0 1 2 0 1 0—6 11 5
Menahga 1 5 0 0 0 3 x—9 6 3
WP: Lindsey White (Menahga) 7IP, 11H, 6R, 3ER, 2BB, 8K
LP: Kendra Steinke (Sebeka) 3IP, 4H, 6R, 2ER, 1BB, 2K
Sebeka—Katianne Brockpahler 2-4, 3R; Katie Huttunen 2-4, R, 3B, 2RBI; Jessica Lillquist 1-4, 2RBI; Kendra Steinke 2-4, 3B, 2RBI; Logan Redetzke 2-4; Carly Brockpahler 1-4, R, 2B; Jasmine Titcomb 1-1
Menahga—Lindsey White 1-4; Beth Tormanen (PR) 3R, 4SB, Tarah Cleveland 1-4, 2R, 2B, 2RBI; Joy Haataja 0-4, R, RBI; Amelia Pho 2-4, 3B, RBI; Haley Hotakainen 1-3, R, 2B; Maria Tormanen 1-3, R