By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
WYOMING -- A short fly ball that barely reached the outfield grass made all the difference for the Brandywine varsity softball team Tuesday evening as it beat Lansing Catholic Central 4-0 to advance to the Division 3 semifinals for the third time in four years.
Sophomore designated hitter Rachel Batman made the most of her first start in the state tournament as she hit a double and a single and drove in the team's first two runs.
Batman bats left-handed and slaps. Knowing that, Lansing Catholic Central coach Hub Waite pulled two of his outfielders in on either side of pitcher Kathryn Green and moved his infielders back to just in front of the grass.
Batman's first at-bat came with runners at second and third base and she got it up in the air just high enough to elude third baseman Danielle Martin and score both runners.
The two second-inning runs proved to be all Brandywine needed as it shut out the Cougars.
Senior pitcher Nicki McGowen gave up just one hit to Lansing Catholic Central and struck out 11 batters.
While the Brandywine defense did not commit any errors, a mental mistake in the second inning nearly cost them. With a runner on first base, a short ground ball to third base led to a fielder's choice at second, but the bag was uncovered. In the bottom of the second inning, Michelle Shoemaker was picked off at first base.
Following the two-run second inning, Kelli Zache and Dee Echevarria hit back-to-back triples in the bottom of the third, scoring one run. Shoemaker followed with a single to score Echevarria and round out the game's scoring.
Amanda Grice, Ashley Antus and Amber Valentine also managed singles.
Brandywine beat Lansing Catholic Centra, which finishes 32-11, in last year's quarterfinal round as well.
The Bobcats, now 39-5, will take on Clinton (28-13) Friday at 1 p.m. Brandywine beat Clinton 4-1 on May 15 and beat the Redskins 3-2 in extra innings in last year's state semifinals.