Minster takes lead in game against New Bremen Monday
WAPAKONETA — With a bases loaded triple to left by Addi Inskeep broke open a 2-0 Minster lead and allowed the Wildcats to go on for an 8-1 victory Monday over the New Bremen Cardinals in the Division IV District tournament held at Wapakoneta.
“We played them less than a week ago,” Minster head coach Robb Hemmelgarn said. “This is like the Ohio St.-Michigan rivalry. You can throw the records and seeding out the window. They have battled since first grade. Getting the lead early was huge.”
“It was a really good game played by two really good teams,” New Bremen head coach Gary Moeder said. “They made more plays defensively than us, but we had more hits than they did. “
New Bremen got things started in the first inning getting runners on second and third, but they just couldn’t get the big hit to score the run.
Allison Hays and Ella Pape started with singles and with one out, both runners moved up on a steal, but Alivia Dammeyer struck out to end the threat.
“We had batters at second and third three times in the game,” Moeder said. “With one out we couldn’t get anybody in. We tried to find ways to find ways to get those runners in and we missed some opportunities with some bunts, but those are the breaks of the game.”
Minster took advantage in the bottom of the second inning.
With one out, Inskeep singled to left and stole second and advanced to third on an error. Reece Albers drew a walk and she stole second. After a pop up to first, Inskeep scored on a wild pitch.
“When we got that run across in the second inning on the wild pitch,” Hemmelgarn said. “I felt those little plays were going to make the difference. It turned out they didn’t, but it put us in position to maybe last longer.”
New Bremen had another chance in the fourth inning.
Alayna Ross led off with a one-out double to left-center. Lily Wilker came in as the courtesy runner and she advanced to third on a single to center by Alivia Dammeyer who went to second on the throw, but the Minster defense struck with a strikeout and a diving catch of a pop up to third.
Minster broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning.
Hemmelgarn drew a walk, but Mackala Hoskins and Hannah Oldiges struck out. Haley Albers drew a walk with Haley Philot coming in as a courtesy runner. Kaycie Albers doubled to left center to score Hemmelgarn and Brookly Osterloh walked to load the bases. Kennedy Korte came in as a courtesy runner and all three runners scored when Inskeep smacked a triple to left to make the score 5-0.
“There was nothing that really hurt Alayna until that triple in the fifth inning,” Moeder said. “That is one pitch that we would like to have back, but that was just one pitch and you can’t judge an outing by one pitch.and she pitched a great game.”
New Bremen scored their lone run in the sixth inning.
Hays led off with a single to left and she
scored on when Ella Pape singled and went to second on an error.
Minster concluded the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Defense turned out to be a big help for Minster in the game as they had three diving catches for outs in the game at key points.
“We have a lot of big bats in our lineup,” Hemmelgarn said. “We can’t wait to see what our bats will do we have to set the tone with our defense. In the last week of tournament, we turned a lot of double plays and can break wills of teams. Our defense takes a lot of pride in their double plays and diving catches.”
Pitching was also a key for the Wildcats as they were patient at the plate.
Osterloh pitched the complete game for the Minster victory giving up one unearned run on 10 hits. She struck out seven and hit one batter.
Alayna Ross also pitched the complete game for New Bremen giving up eight runs, one unearned on seven hits. She struck out six, but walked nine.
“We were patient tonight and we are getting better at that,” Hemmelgarn said. “Tonight we were smart, selective and patient at the plate.”
The Wildcats will have a makeup game against Arcanum on Tuesday before facing the Parkway Panthers who came from behind to beat St. Henry 4-2 on Thursday at 5::00, while the Cardinals end their season at 1013.
NEW BREMEN 0
0 0 0 0 1 0 1-10-2
MINSTER 0 1 0 0 4 3 - 8-7-1
WP — Osterloh (MIN)
LP — Ross (NB) HR — Oldiges (MIN)
TRPLE —Inskeep (MIN)
DBL — Albers (MIN; Ross (NB).