Prep Softball: Section 6A Semifinals: Lady Braves stun Bertha-Hewitt 6-1 (REPOSTED)
Menahga saved their best effort against Bertha-Hewitt in a game that really counted, as the Lady Braves stunned the Lady Bears 6-1 Tuesday to advance to the Section 6A championship game.
The South Subsection champion Lady Bears, who had defeated Menahga in a Park Region Conference doubleheader in the regular season by scores of 4-2 and 18-4, were undone by a five-run third inning outburst by the Lady Braves.
The North Subsection runner-ups battered Bertha-Hewitt starter Christina Moenkedick to break open a scoreless game. Jada Melton got the offensive fireworks going when she led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tarah Cleveland.
Katie Miller was hit by a pitch and Joy Haataja followed with a single. Lindsey White rapped a line drive to the left side to plate a pair of runs, but Haataja was gunned down at third for the second out.
Megan Miller followed in the order with a single, scoring Maria Tormanen, pinch running for White.
Moenkedick was replaced on the mound by Autumn Aeling. The Bears relief pitcher walked Amelia Pho and then gave up a single to the right to Jenny Skoog, which scored Trisha Johnson pinch running for Miller.
The Lady Braves tallied their fifth run of the inning when Aeling unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Pho to score from third. The sophomore pitcher finally ended the bleeding by getting Beth Skoog to strike out.
Bertha-Hewitt answered with their lone run in the bottom half when Moenkedick scored on a pair of Menahga errors.
Menahga capped the scoring in the fourth on Haataja’s RBI double that scored Melton to send the Lady Braves into Thursday’s title game with Parkers Prairie.
White earned the victory for the Lady Braves, picking up her third victory in four starts. The junior allowed four hits and struck out six in seven innings and went 1-for-3 with two RBIs at the plate. Haataja collected two of the Lady Braves five hits in the contest.
Section 6A Semifinals
Menahga vs. Bertha-Hewitt on June 1
Lady Braves 6, Lady Bears 1
Menahga 0 0 5 1 0 0 0—6 5 3
Bertha-Hewitt 0 0 1 0 0 0 0—1 4 1
WP: Lindsey White (Menahga) (7IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 6K)
LP: Christina Moenkedick (BH)
Menahga—Joy Haataja 2-4, 2B, RBI; White 1-3, 2RBI; Megan Miller 1-4, RBI; Jenny Skoog 1-3, RBI
Bertha-Hewitt—Kristy Shaw 1-3; Brittany Kimber 1-3; Autumn Aeling 1-2, 2B; Sarah VanDenheuvel 1-2
