The dream season continues

Published 4:27 pm Monday, June 12, 2006

By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
GOBLES - "It's been a dream season."
Those were the words of Buchanan varsity softball coach Mike Welsh after the Buchanan softball team claimed the 2006 MHSAA Division III softball regional championship on Saturday in Gobles.
The Lady Bucks' dream season will continue on Tuesday afternoon in Grand Rapids when they face No. 4 ranked Galesburg-Augusta (34-5). The Lady Bucks moved into the top 10 (No. 9) in the season's final Division 3 poll.
Buchanan defeated Parchment 8-2 in the title game on Saturday. The Lady Bucks advanced after picking up a 10-3 win over Watervliet in the opening game on Saturday for the right to play for the regional crown later in the day.
Going into the opening game of the day, Welsh knew that in order to have a chance at winning the game, his team would need to keep the Lady Panthers' speedsters - Jamie Hartmann and Katelyn Bryce - off the base paths. Earlier in the season, the Panthers defeated Buchanan by a single run in each game of a non-league doubleheader, so Welsh knew what his team needed to do to succeed.
Not only were the Lady Bucks successful at keeping the top two hitters off the bags, but Watervliet's top five batters were 1-for-17 at the plate. The only hit came from a solo home run by Rachel Sheffer in the fourth inning. Sarah Sheffer reached on an error to start the second inning, but could only advance her as far as second. The home run was the Panthers' first run of the game, but Buchanan had already pushed five runs across the dish.
Buchanan turned the tables on Watervliet and scored its first run in the bottom of the first with the use of its speed. Emily Ross reached first on an infield single, moved to second with a steal, advanced to third on a pass ball and scored with a steal of home plate. Three more runs in the second by Buchanan and a single run in the third proved to be enough runs to win the game. The Lady Bucks added five more insurance runs in the sixth to secure their ticket to the championship game where they faced Parchment.
But it was the gutty performance by Buchanan's Ashley Pointer on the mound in game one that may have kept Buchanan's hunt for the title alive. Pointer led off the second inning reaching first on an error and as she advanced to second rolled her ankle rounding the bag. A courtesy runner took over for her and Welsh began to get freshman pitcher Jayme O'Bryant warmed up and ready to take over. But it was Pointer coming out in the third to stay on the mound for Buchanan.
Pointer finished the game allowing eight hits and didn't give up a walk, while striking out four for the win.
"I have all the faith in the world in Jayme, she can throw, but we are better defensively with her at short," Welsh said of the thought of having to put O'Bryant on the mound.
Rachel Sheffer pitched two innings for the Panthers and suffered the loss, giving up three hits, two walks and striking out one. Sarah Sheffer pitched three innings, giving up five hits, four walks and struck out four.
Hayley Burks had two hits in the game with a single, a double and three RBIs and Chenai Marker had a pair of singles with two RBIs. Holly Lucas contributed to the three-run second inning with a double for two RBIs.
Buchanan got on the board early in the championship game with two runs in the first. Again, it was Ross reaching base after a pass ball on a third strike. A double by Jayme O'Bryant allowed Maggie Ernsberger to reach second on an error and a RBI single by Burks gave the Lady Bucks an early 2-0 lead.
"Emily (Ross) is the spark plug and I've told you that all year," Welsh said. "If you can keep her and (Jill) Woodrick off the bases you may slow us down, but when they get on they'll run you to death. But I thought we weren't real sharp. I thought when we jumped out 2-0 we relaxed and that team is not going to quit on you."
Parchment tied the game in the top half of the fourth. The Panthers picked up all four of their hits of the game in the inning and plated their only two runs of the game. A visit to the mound by Welsh settled his ace pitcher down.
"She wasn't throwing at all and me and her have this thing and she knows I don't like to make any trips, so she knew when I was coming she knew what was coming," Welsh said. "I know her ankle is hurting, I mean she is hurting, she is pretty sore now and will be tomorrow."
Pointer settled down and shut down the Parchment offense.
It was also the help of Pointer's defense behind her, namely O'Bryant at short.
"She doesn't play like a freshman," Welsh said. O'Bryant for the day made 11 plays from her shortstop spot in the two games and recorded an out with each opportunity with out an error. "She is just awesome," Welsh said.
Buchanan responded with two runs in each of the next three innings to take the 8-2 victory to send the Lady Bucks to the quarterfinals.
Ross and Burks each finished with a pair of singles with O'Bryant and Marker each having a two hit game each with a double and a single.
Losing pitcher Jennifer Chiechi gave up eight hits, four walks and struck out seven. Pointer allowed one walk and struck out seven in her four hitter to improve her season record to 25-7, while the Lady Bucks move to 31-9.
Game one
Watervliet 000 110 1 - 3 8 2
Buchanan 131 005 x - 10 8 2
WP- Ashley Pointer (24-7)
LP- Rachel Sheffer
Sarah Sheffer (3)
HR- Rachel Sheffer
2B- Hayley Burks (B), Holly Lucas (B), Analyse Winans (W), Briana Watson (W) Alexia Mullin (W)
Championship game
Parchment 000 200 0 - 2 4 4
Buchanan 200 222 X - 8 8 1
WP- Pointer (25-7)
LP- Jennifer Chiechi
2B- Jayme O'Bryant (B), Chenai Marker