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Fraine scores winning run in extra innings |
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Friday, 20 June 2008 |
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By James Costello
Sports Writer
MISHAWAKA — What’s better than winning a Sports Fest all-star softball championship? Sharing the accomplishment with your friend and teammate. Bremen pitcher Jenni Andrews and Lady Lions catcher Jenny Fraine led their team to a program-first appearance in the Class 2A state championship game two weeks ago, and Thursday they helped lead Indiana West to a 3-2, eight-inning championship win over Metro at Bethel College. “It helped out a bunch because I was stressed out before, like ‘Oh, God, who’s going to catch me?’” said Andrews. “But then Jenny (Fraine) got picked also, so that took a lot of the pressure off.”
“She’s not a major strikeout pitcher, but she makes you hit her pitches,” said West coach Larry Patterson of Andrews. “And it’s actually a plus when you have Jennifer Fraine behind the plate. She knows her; she knows what she wants.”
Andrews gave up only one earned run, six hits and four walks inside the circle in Thursday’s victory, but she also helped on the other side of the plate with a single leading off for West in the top of the first. She was driven home on a single by tourney MVP LaPorte shortstop Tara Buchanan that turned into a late overthrow to put west up 1-0.
Metro scored runs in the second and third to jump ahead 2-1, and neither team scored again until West tied it up in the sixth. Buchanan walked on four straight balls by Metro pitcher Jaimee Works, and Culver Girls Academy’s Kylie Hermanson belted out a long fly that ricocheted off the top of the center field fence to advance Buchanan to third before she was batted in by a Courtney Michael line single to shallow center.
Andrews got out of a jam in the bottom of the inning with the score knotted at 2-all, as Metro loaded up the bases with no outs, then went down 1-2-3 with an infield fly, a pop out, and a throw from Buchanan to Fraine for a force out at home.
“It was a really close play, but Tara has a fun,” said Fraine of the spectacular play. “It was a really close play, but I think we had her for sure.”
Andrews scored West’s first run, and Fraine scored the team’s final run in the eighth inning Thursday.
In accordance with international tie-breaker rules, Fraine was placed on second base in the top of the extra frame. Works retired two straight West batters and ran up two strikes on Buchanan before she ripped a double to center for her second RBI of the game.
“It was so exciting to be the one to be able to score the winning run,” Fraine said. “I didn’t think I was going to get in because we had two outs and two strikes on her but she had an awesome hit and coach just told me to go.”
“It’s kind of a relief now I know the pressure’s off,” Andrews said. “But I’ll miss softball and all the other sports.”
Also at Thursday’s game, former Plymouth catcher and St. Mary recruit Jessica Centa was able to finish her high school career on a high note.
“It feels great,” said Centa. “We ended the basketball season with a state championship and now this. I got to play with all these great players.”
• INDIANA WEST 3,
METRO 2
At Bethel College in Mishawaka
IW: 100 001 01 — 3 5 3
M: 011 000 00 — 2 6 1
Jenni Andrews (W) and Jenny Fraine; Jaimee Works (L) and Rebekah Nelson.
2B: Kylie Hermanson (IW), Ashley Gates 2 (M), Sarah Scanlon.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 June 2008 )
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