Mustangs downed by Albany in district opener

STANBERRY- North Nodaway played even with third-seeded Albany for two innings Wednesday before walks and errors caused the game to get away from them in the third.

With the aid of three walks, a hit batsmen and five errors, Albany only required two hits to score eight times in the inning.

The sixth-seeded Mustangs closed within four in the fifth, but Albany scored the game's final six runs to close out a 14-4 win in the first round of district play.

Albany advanced to take on second-seeded Jefferson tonight at 6:15 p.m. North Nodaway's season ended at 2-16.

This was North Nodaway's third loss to Albany and second straight by a 10-run margin.

"We score four of five runs. If you pitch well, you got a chance to win the game," said North Nodaway head coach Doug Freemyer. "We walked too many tonight. Obviously, you can't walk people and win. I'm not putting it all on that because we had too many errors in the field. Walks come back to haunt you in softball."

North Nodaway starter Cambry Schluter worked around three first inning walks and another in the second to keep the game scoreless after two. She incurred more control issues in the third, and this time there was no escape.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Madelon Martin poked a two-run single to give Albany a 2-0 lead. An errant throw by Schluter to third on a tapper back to the mound brought home Albany's third run.

A bases loaded walk, a dropped pop fly and another bases loaded walk brought it to 6-0 and finished Schluter's day on the mound.

Freemyer expressed displeasure with the strike zone while walking to and from the dugout.

"I thought we were getting squeezed a little," said Freemyer. "It didn't seem like it was working the other way. I was just a little irritated."

Freshman Breeann O'Riley relieved Schluter and pitched the final 2 1/3 innings.

Albany scored twice more in the third on a second error by Schluter at short.

Held to one hit in the first four innings, the Mustangs came alive in the fifth and pushed across all four runs.

Sophomore Alysa Lyle led off with a double—her second of three hits—and scored the Mustangs' first run two batters later on an RBI groundout by Samantha Smyser.

An infield single by Kya Rodgers made it 8-2.

The Mustangs picked up two more runs on a fly ball to left by Schluter that was dropped with two outs.

Albany spread its lead back to 10-4 with a two-run fifth. O'Riley walked in a run with one out and an error brought the second one across.

In the sixth, Albany used four singles, a walk and an error to score four more times.

Kaylie McGinley and Amy Gully each had run-producing hits. The game ended on an RBI groundout by Jyssica Long.

Albany lefty Morgan Combs pitched all six innings to get the the win.

"Our kids battled," said Freemyer. "We just had too many mistakes. Albany has had our number. I thought this was a better game then the last one. We didn't play well at all. We had some fight in us tonight."

North Nodaway graduates only Rodgers and Smyser off this year's team.

Jefferson 15 Northeast Nodaway 0

Unaccustomed to playing a first round district game, the Jefferson Lady Eagles weren't on the field very long.

Taking advantage of several Northeast Nodaway miscues, the Eagles breezed to a 15-0 win in three innings Wednesday.

Second-seeded Jefferson scored four times in the first, five in the second and six in third to end it.

The Eagles (16-9) will play Albany in the semifinals tonight at 6:15 p.m. Seventh-seeded Northeast Nodaway finished at 1-17.

"I'm kind of glad we played tonight," said Jefferson head coach Shelly Deen. "It was good to get the nerves out. We got some young players starting and that's what we wanted to do was get off on the right foot. I think we did a good job tonight."

Jefferson tallied all four first inning runs on passed balls. Walks and errors were a major part of its six-run second that finished NEN starter Shayna Dougan.

Facing NEN reliever Dallis Coffelt in the third, Jefferson loaded the bases with nobody out and scored on an RBI groundout by Brooklyn Stoll.

With two outs, Asia McClellan hit an RBI single to center and an errant throw home allowed three runs to score.

Winning pitcher Ashley Chor finished it with a single to right. She kept NEN hitless through three innings.

NEN had just three baserunners in the game, coming on a walk and two errors.

"I think we just had a lack of communication," said NEN head coach Hilary Loe. "Our pitcher wasn't on and they made the plays they needed to. We just didn't have the defensive plays we needed. I think the score shows our effort."

NEN loses three seniors, third baseman Kristan Judd, outfielder Ashlie Moore and outfielder Katrina Freemyer.