M-C Defeats L-A in KFIL Softball Playoff Opener

High school softball playoff action started on KFIL Monday afternoon with a 4-seed vs. 5-seed game. Mabel-Canton was victorious by a score of 9-3 over Lewiston-Altura.

After a weekend of weather that was not the greatest, we had a great afternoon for softball weather, and a couple of teams that really competed. Lewiston-Altura got two on with 2 out in the first before M-C pitcher Harley McCabe ended the threat with a strikeout. In the bottom of the first, Mabel-Canton leadoff hitter Lexi Thorson worked the count 2-2 and was finally hit by a pitch to reach first. She was quickly erased caught stealing on a throw right on the money from Staley Seefeldt to Paige Denzer. The Cougars got a baserunner 6 pitches later, and Payton Danielson was on first with one down. Coranda Vickerman hit a ball hard to shortstop and reached to put two on with one out. Maddy Michels came through next with a hit to right for the 1-0 Cougars lead, and that was the first.

Lewiston-Altura stranded two more in the second, then M-C got a base hit from Hannah Snell Lexi Thorson's double drove her in for the 2-0 Cougar lead. Lewiston-Altura was about to get things going in the third.

To lead off the top of the 3rd, Gabby Speltz hit a ball that dropped in center field. Just a small deflection into left-center, and Speltz took off for second to stretch the hit into a double. Amanda Kauten didn't get a bunt down, but her grounder advanced Speltz to third. A batter later, Mary Bronk got an infield hit to drive in Speltz for the first L-A run. Allison Averbeck followed with a hit, and the Cardinals were in business. Ciarra McNally then reached on a fielder's choice trying to get the lead runner. out at third The score was 2-2, before a dropped strike three. The throw to first was in time, but Averbeck scampered home, with the throw coming up the line. The visiting Cardinals led 3-2.

In the bottom of the 3rd, with the new lead, Amanda Kauten retired the Cougars in order. In the 4th, M-C left the bases loaded. The next offensive burst came in the 5th.

After a flyout and a fielder's choice, the Cougars had one on with two out in the bottom of the 5th. Avery Arneson stepped up to hit a triple and score Kayla Patterson for the 3-3 tie. Kim Hauber singled in Arneson to take the lead back 4-3! The Cougars then got the bases loaded again, and scored one run out of it. Lexi Thorson work an 8-pitch bases loaded walk to drive in the third run of the inning for the 5-3 score.

Harley McCabe, pitching with the lead, retired the Cardinals in order, with 2 groundouts to Hannah Snell at third, and a groundout back to the circle. M-C got the bats going again in the bottom of the 6th.

Coranda Vickerman hit a fly ball to left-center and Ciarra McNally went a long ways to run it down for the out to get the leadoff hitter out. Two M-C batters then walked, and Kim Hauber singled to left. Kenidi McCabe hit one to left, Hannah Snell drove one in as well, Payton Danielson got a base hit, and in between all that, 4 runs came around in the 6th. L-A's Mary Bronk hit a single in the 7th, but that was it. Mabel-Canton defeated Lewiston-Altura 9-3.

Make sure to tune in to our stations for more high school softball Wednesday! We'll let you know who and where we'll be soon!