{"id":2845,"date":"2023-05-25T08:59:50","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T12:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=2845"},"modified":"2023-05-25T16:20:15","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T20:20:15","slug":"home-runs-lead-pats-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/25\/home-runs-lead-pats-to-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Runs lead Pats to victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By RANDY HISNER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heritage softball coach Amanda Minchski didn\u2019t have to strategize much on offense Wednesday night in the Patriots\u2019 13-3 mercy-rule victory over Concordia in the semifinals of the Angola 3A Sectional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/madison.png?resize=640%2C219\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/madison.png?w=767&amp;ssl=1 767w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/madison.png?resize=300%2C102&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Proud sponsor of Heritage athletics on WZBD.com!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A five-home run barrage made tactics unnecessary. \u201cI love that,\u201d Minchski said of the big-swing outburst. \u201cI can put the play sheet in my pocket and just let them go.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"312\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-HR.jpg?resize=480%2C312\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-HR.jpg?w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-HR.jpg?resize=300%2C195&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Abriyah James finishes her home run trot after being congratulated by head coach Amanda Minchski. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Patriots (16-8), behind the stellar pitching of sophomore Danica Fuller, were nursing a 2-0 lead as they came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, center fielder Abriyah James started the home run derby, drilling a 1-0 pitch over the fence in dead center to make it 3-0. Catcher Grace Guenther followed with a single to left but was forced out at second on Claire Bickel\u2019s fielder\u2019s choice infield grounder. Then third baseman Avi Washington got into an 0-2 hole against Cadet starter Samantha Hoffman. Apparently, Washington didn\u2019t cut down her swing much with two strikes; she clubbed the next pitch well over the center field fence for a two-run homer and a 5-0 Patriot lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-Concordia.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Abriyah James spoke with WZBD&#8217;s Randy Hisner after Wednesday night&#8217;s win over Concordia. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pats weren\u2019t done. Shortstop Libby Cain walked, and Cadet coach Jacob Pennekamp brought Maizy O\u2019Hare in for Hoffman. First baseman Lydia Schultz reached on an error, bringing up second baseman Lucy Buuck, who promptly followed the James-Washington blueprint with a three-run homer to left. Heritage led 8-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A brief defensive lapse by the Patriots in the top of the sixth led to three Concordia runs. With one out, the Cadets\u2019 Addison Kaiser reached on Schultz\u2019s error. Ruth Kaiser then grounded to Washington at third, but Washington\u2019s throw was wide of first base, and Addison Kaiser scampered home for the Cadets\u2019 first run. Raelyn Koesters then laced a triple to center, scoring Ruth Kaiser. Allison Dubay grounded to short, driving in Koesters to make it 8-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Refusing to let the momentum shift, the Patriots scored five in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the 10-run rule. James led off with her second home run of the game and third of the season, a long drive over the fence in left center. Guenther singled and Washington reached on an error before Schultz blasted a 1-0 pitch out of the park in right center to give the Pats a 12-3 lead. Buuck walked, then scored the 13<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;run when the Concordia right fielder misplayed Fuller\u2019s single.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heritage had taken an early lead with single runs in the first and second innings. Fuller tripled to start the first inning and eventually scored on James\u2019s ground out to Hoffman. In the second, Washington reached on an error, advanced to third on singles by Cain and Buuck, and came home on Fuller\u2019s ground out to third.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"380\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fuller-pitching.jpg?resize=380%2C272\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fuller-pitching.jpg?w=380&amp;ssl=1 380w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Fuller-pitching.jpg?resize=300%2C215&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Danica Fuller went the distance, allowing just two base hits. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuller went the distance for the Patriots, striking out eight, walking two, and giving up just two hits. She had a productive night at the plate also, collecting two triples, a single, and an RBI groundout.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hoffman took the loss. She went 4.2 innings and gave up seven hits and two walks, while striking out four. Concordia, the SAC champs, ended the season 12-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Minchski.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Amanda Minchski comments on her team&#8217;s win Wednesday in the 3A Angola Sectional. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Cadets had edged the Patriots 9-8 back in April. \u201cThe girls always want revenge on losses,\u201d Minchski said. \u201cThey definitely are competitors, and they don\u2019t like to lose, so that was one they wanted to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The win puts Heritage in Thursday\u2019s championship game against the 23-1 Leo Lions, the state\u2019s top-ranked 3A team. The Lions defeated Woodlan 8-2 in Wednesday\u2019s first game. Leo defeated Heritage 15-5 in the regular season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLeo\u2019s a great team,\u201d Minchski noted. \u201cThey\u2019ve had a great program for years. We\u2019re just looking to do what we\u2019ve always done\u2014go out there, compete, have fun. If we can keep the game close, we think we\u2019ve got a chance. Anything can happen in a sectional final. If we didn\u2019t believe, we wouldn\u2019t be where we are right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"148\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-swing.jpg?resize=480%2C148\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-swing.jpg?w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/James-swing.jpg?resize=300%2C93&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Patriots will head back to Angola for the championship game Thursday. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The championship game is slated for 6:00 P.M. Thursday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By RANDY HISNER WZBD.com Heritage softball coach Amanda Minchski didn\u2019t have to strategize much on offense Wednesday night<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[15,51,40,26],"class_list":["post-2845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-featured","tag-heritage","tag-softball","tag-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/4-HR-hitters.jpg?fit=480%2C332&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}