Prep Softball: White, Pho lead Lady Braves past Verndale 4-1

Solid pitching from Lindsey White and the torrid hitting of Amelia Pho allowed Menahga to post a 4-1 Park Region Conference victory over the host Verndale Lady Pirates on Friday.

White struck out 12 Verndale batters during the three-hit, seven-inning performance inside the circle. Pho slugged three doubles and drove in three runs to pace the Lady Braves at the plate.

The Lady Braves struck first when White walked to lead off the game in the first inning and scored on Pho’s two-out double. The Lady Pirates answered in the bottom of the second inning when Jenny Swenson drew a led off walk, advanced to third on Jordy Schluttner’s double and scored on a wild pitch.

Menahga jumped ahead in the third inning for good on a pair of extra base hits and a Lady Pirate throwing error. Joy Haataja led off the frame with a double, and after Tarah Cleveland flew out, Pho slugged another double to push the winning run across. The senior would later score when the pickoff throw on a steal at third sailed into left field.

Menahga added the insurance run in the fifth as Cleveland ripped a two-out triple and scored on Pho’s third double of of the game.

The Lady Braves registered eight hits off Verndale starter Jenny Swenson, who struck out three in the loss.

On Tuesday, Menahga (5-2) travels to Ottertail Central while Verndale (1-10) tangles with rival Bertha-Hewitt at home for pair of conference doubleheaders starting at 4 p.m.

Menahga at Verndale on April 29
Lady Braves 4, Lady Pirates 1
Menahga 1 0 2 0 1 0 0—4 8 2
Verndale 0 1 0 0 0 0 0—1 3 2
WP: Lindsey White (M) 7IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 12K
LP: Jenny Swenson (V) 7IP, 8H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K
Menahga—White 1-3, R; Joy Haataja 1-4, R, 2B; Tarah Cleveland 1-4, R, 3B; Amelia Pho 3-4, R, (3)2B, RBI; Alicia Ahlf 1-3; Maria Tormanen 1-2
Verndale—Kirsten Korfe 1-3; Jenny Swenson 1-2, R; Jordy Schluttner 1-3, 2B