The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Three-win week pushes Milan over .500
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2007
After going 3-2 in its last five games and raising its overall record to 9-8, the Milan varsity softball team has a viable shot at doubling its number of wins over last year's record of six.
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"It's definitely a confidence boost to have more wins than last year," said junior first baseman Tori Turner after playing a pivotal role in the Big Reds' 2-0 victory over Huron League rival New Boston Monday night. "We're a lot more aggressive than last year."
Turner, who has been on an offensive tear the past five games, hitting over .600 with two doubles and a triple, broke a scoreless tie against New Boston in the third with aggressive base running. She led off the inning with a sharp single up the middle, moved to second on an Ashley Beal sacrifice bunt, and then to third when Lani Ernst smacked a short single to left.
With one out, Sarah Heath laid down a bunt that was fielded by the third baseman, whose first thought was to throw to first before the catcher yelled.
Here came Turner home.
The slight hesitation was all Turner needed. She flew by the third baseman, who shuffled the ball to the catcher too late. Turner slid hard, dislodging the ball from the catcher's mitt and scoring Milan's first run of the game.
Two plays later, Ernst broke for home on a passed ball lost only feet from the catcher, sliding to put Milan up 2-0.
"[Ernst] is an aggressive, quick base runner," said coach Jen Jackson after the game. "She recognized the catcher didn't know where the ball was and took off. If she hesitated one second she could have been out. The fact that she didn't hesitate meant the difference of a run."
Jackson was also pleased with her team's defensive effort.
"They played stellar defense," she said. "Heath was invaluable [at short]."
Ernst struck out six and gave up only two hits, none after the second inning.
Aggressive base running also accounted for two of Milan's three runs in an 8-5 loss at home to Monroe Jefferson last Thursday.
Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Beal led off with a soft single up the middle and advanced to third on a double by Ernst through the left-center gap.
After Heath was retired on an infield pop-up, Amelia Budny sent a dribbler to the Bears second baseman.
Here came Beal home. Hard.
The throw was not far behind.
But Beal blasted the Jefferson catcher onto her back and the ball rolled to the backstop, allowing Ernst to score all the way from second.
"Since I'm a catcher myself, I just get big and expect the catcher to get big," said Beal after the game. "I do anything to get to the plate."
The Big Reds lost their 3-2 lead when Jefferson scored two runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth. Milan closed the gap with a run in the sixth off a Heath RBI-double and once in the seventh when Turner doubled with two outs and scored on a line shot to right from Beal.
On the mound, Ernst struck out 10, gave up three hits and walked five.
"We had too many errors," said Jackson.
With the win over New Boston and the loss to Monroe Jefferson, Milan is now 2-3 in the Huron League.
The Big Reds went 2-1 at the Whitmore Lake Invitational over the weekend, defeating Whitmore Lake 10-3 and Lenawee Christian 2-1 before falling to Whiteford 7-4.
On the day, Heath struck out 13, gave up eight hits and seven walks. Ernst struck out 16, walked four and gave up four hits. Turner went 6-for-9 with a triple and a double and two RBI.
In the Whitmore Lake win, Heath went 3-for-4 with a double, two triples and four RBI.
"Heath had quite a game,' said Jackson. "She has pretty good power at the plate. She puts the ball in play hard."
Jackson sees the tight wins over Lenawee Christian and New Boston as reflections of Milan's defense.
"It also shows the girls can play under pressure," she said.
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