Ignowski no-hitter lifts Vikings to victory

Published 7:46 pm Wednesday, May 28, 2008

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
EDWARDSBURG – To be the best you have to beat the best.
Top-ranked Niles knocked off Division 2 softball powerhouse Lakeshore to advance to the semifinals on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers had won 11 out of the last 13 district championships, but were no match for the Lady Vikings in a 6-0 Niles victory.
All-State pitcher Jenna Ignowski tossed her 11th no-hitter of the season and racked up the team's 28th shutout of the season.
Ignowski was dominating from the beginning despite not having command of her change-up according to coach Gary Collins.
The junior hurler struck out the first nine batters she faced and 16 in total. The lone Lady Lancer to reach base was Brooke Fleenor, who walked in the second inning.
"It's the same old Jenna," Collins said. "In fact, really she struggled with her change-up. She finally started throwing it good in the last inning. But she threw the other pitches real well."
Niles jumped on Lakeshore for a run in the second inning and then made it 2-0 with a run in the third frame.
Heather Daniels singled to make it 1-0, while Maggie Ernsberger drove in the second run.
Scoring first was huge according to Collins.
"It's everything," answered Collins when asked about scoring first. "Because then, it takes away their slapping and bunting. If they can slap and bunt, that keeps them in the game."
Niles scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning as Cricket Fisher picked up her first career home run, a two-run shot that cleared the 200-foot fence with plenty to spare.
"She hits them in practice," Collins said. "But I've said from day one that we've got 12 kids that can hit a home run. I've got some talented kids."
Niles completed the scoring in the seventh inning with a pair of unearned runs.
Lakeshore (24-11) pitcher Maggie Hildebrand gave everyone a scare in the second inning as she was hit with a line drive in the shoulder. After spending some time on the ground, she got up and finished the game.
In the sixth inning, Lakeshore third baseman Kelly Vigansky had to leave the game for medical reasons.
The Lady Vikings finished with 10 hits off of Hildebrand, including Fisher's home run and single. Niles also got two hits and two RBIs from Ernsberger and a double by Nellie Coquillard, who now needs just one to tie the school record.
Ernsberger's 42 RBIs is a new school record, as is the 28 shutouts and 31 victories.
Niles will face host Edwardsburg, which it defeated 4-0 and 6-0 earlier this year, on Saturday in the second game. Dowagiac and St. Joseph will play at 10 a.m. with the winner advancing to the finals.
The Lady Vikings and Lady Eddies will take the field 30 minutes after the completion of the first semifinal.
Niles 011 020 2 – 6 10 0
Lakeshore 000 000 0 – 0 0 2
WP – Jenna Ignowski (N, 30-2) and Maggie Ernsberger
LP – Maggie Hildebrand (L) and Chelsey Sobralski
2B: Nellie Coquillard (N)
HR: Cricket Fisher (N)
Records
Niles 31-2, Lakeshore 24-11