June 13, 2013 at 2:56 p.m.
Pointers wear championship crown well
The ending of the championship game at the WIAA Division 3 softball state softball tournament Saturday was like that.
For the second straight day the final out of the game found its way into right fielder Sydney Pethel's glove.
Only this time instead of allowing the Mineral Point softball team to advance it did something much more special.
It gave the Pointers the out they needed to claim the 2013 State Championship.
Maybe that's why Pethel's celebratory leap was a little higher than the one the day before.
Maybe that's why winning pitcher Beth Wood's smile was a little brighter.
Maybe that's why the Mineral Point cheering section was a little louder.
Make that a lot louder.
The 7-2 win left Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic Academy a little shell shocked.
The way the game unfolded left losing pitcher Maddy Chase in a state of shock.
Chase was never able to get into a flow while on the mound because of several illegal pitch calls that helped advance Pointer runners or let them score.
After the Lady Lancers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning the Pointers answered right away with a lead-off triple by Beth Wood and an illegal pitch call that sent courtesy runner Lauren Graber across the plate. A second illegal pitch call in the inning sent Paula Pittz to third but the inning ended before she could score.
Pittz had reached on a walk.
The 2-1 lead stayed until the third when four runs let the Pointers take over for good.
Beth Wood was again the catalyst with a lead-off single between short and third. Graber came in to run and was awarded second on an illegal pitch. Pittz bunted her to third and she scored on a sac fly by Caitlyn Qualley to tie the game.
Clara Chambers was nicked by a pitch and then was awarded second on an illegal pitch. Jordyn Dolphin walked and she and Chambers moved up and both scored on a hit by Emily Wood that settled in right field.
Emily Wood had received a second chance offer when an apparent fly out to center was nullified by---you guessed it--an illegal pitch. Emily then delivered the crushing blow.
Rachel McCoy courtesy ran for Emily Wood and advanced when Pethel was hit by a pitch. Both moved into scoring position and McCoy scored when Carlie Qualley reached on an error.
Beth Wood again found herself leading off an inning as she singled to start the fourth. Graber ran for her and stole second. A bunt by Pittz sent her to third and another illegal pitch put her across the plate.
Halie Schmitz singled to start the sixth and scored the final Pointer run when Chambers was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced.
Beth Wood started the seventh with a strikeout then induced a pair of flyballs to end the game.
The final one settled nicely into Pethel's glove.
Beth Wood had a day for the Pointers. She led the offense with a 3x4 performance.
She also was magnificent on the mound, spacing seven hits, striking out three and did not walk a batter.
The defense was solid behind her, fielding 11 groundouts and seven fly ball outs.
Chase was tough between illegal pitches. She struck out 10, walked two and gave up only six hits.
The official scorer assessed her for five balks.
The unofficial scorer credited her with 13 illegal pitches.
The rest of the hits for the Pointers came from Caitlyn Qualley, Emily Wood and Halie Schmitz.
Another deja vu moment came in the fourth when a two out grounder by Amanda Rivera rolled off Pittz's shoulder and into Schmitz's glove while she was standing on second to force Anna Spracklin.
The Wood to Wood battery appeared to be a synchronized effort all season.
Emily Wood not only handled her sister, Beth's assortment of pitches she also delivered the backbreaker with her two run single.
"It's been 30 years since Mineral Point has played at state," she said. "We came in, kept going and didn't stop."
Emily said she did not care who the Pointers were playing or the fact that it was the title contest.
"It was just another game to me," she said.
She admitted to being a little uneasy when the Lady Lancers scored early but things turned quickly.
"They had some errors and then there were the illegal pitch calls," she said. "Things started to go in our favor."
She said the fact that this is a state championship unlike others in Mineral Point is special.
"Everyone knows about the wrestling and the cross country," she said. "But this one should give other softball teams hope."
Catching her sister has been special for Emily who will give up softball when she heads to UW-River Falls to study animal science.
"I don't catch her in the offseason as she plays on traveling teams," she said. "But we get together for school ball. I know what is in her head. And as for the bond, you can't work to get that. For us it is already there."
Sydney Pethel was ready for the ball on the final out.
"I like to see it come to me," she said. "Unlike yesterday this one was right at me. I didn't have to move."
Coach Quinn Schultz smiled when asked how he felt after the win.
"It is the state championship," he said. "That's how I feel."
This group of girls deserve this," he said. "They deserve the best."
"They hit the ball. They play defense. They come to practice everyday and work hard."
"They are special."
