Bethlehem Academy Softball Opens Season with Win

The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals opened their fastpitch softball season with a 10-2 win today over the Kenyon-flyout, Knights in Wanamingo.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when junior Knights pitcher Josie Flom struggled to find the strike zone early. Anna Cohen was walked to start the game. Reagan Kangas was hit by a pitch before Anna Tobin hit a 2-RBI triple.

Kate Trump was walked then stole second base.

Morgan Wilson was then walked and during hger at bat a ball was thrown to the backstop. K-W catcher Neveah Greseth quickly got the ball to Flom covering home plate. Flom administered the tag as Tobin was sliding home. She was called out for the first out of the game.

Trump went to third base on the play. She scored on a sacrifice fly RBI off the bat of Sarah Tobin to make the score 3-0.

The 7th batter to come to the plate for the Cardinals struck out to end the top half of the opening inning.

Wilson threw 22 pitches in the first inning with some control issues of her own. Vanessa Bartel opened the K-W portion of the first inning with a walk and was thrown out trying to steal second base with Allina Mendoza at the plate.

Mendoza was then walked. A wild pitch advanced her to second base but Wilson got strikeouts of the #3 and #4 hitters in the Knights lineup.

Bethlehem Academy left fielder Caitlin Bothun walked to open the second inning. During a strikeout of the next batter, she stole second base.

Flom collected another strikeout before hitting Kangas for the second time in as many trips to the plate. Durijng the Kangas at bat Bothun gained third base .

Kangas stole second base. Bothun scored on a wild pitch. The inning ended with a fly out but the Cardinals were ahead 4-0 after two innings.

K-W scored their first run in the 4th inning when Flom smacked a one out single. Ivette Mendoza was hit by a pitch. Greseth hit a solid single scoring Flom from second base and placing Mendoza at third base. Wilson then recorded a strikeout looking and ground out to hold the scoring to one run.

BA third baseman Anna Tobin hit a one out single and ended up at third base thanks to an error in left field that allowed the ball to go to the fence.

Tobin then scored on a wild pitch.

Following a strikeout for the second out of the fifth inning Wilson hit a dribbler that Flom fielded clean, but the throw resulted in an error.

Sarah Tobin delivered a two out RBI single to make the score 6-1 Cardinals in the lead.

Bothun opened the 6th inning with a well hit single then advanced to second and third base on separate wild pitches. Lindsay Hanson clubbed a RBI single on a full count pitch.

After two outs were recorded Anna Tobin hammered another RBI triple to make the score 8-1,

In the top of the final inning Wilson clubbed a double to open the inning. Jocelyn Simones went in to run for her. Sarah Tobin collected her second hit of the game scoring Simones. Josie Rose was walked.

Sarah Tobin scored on a wild pitch for the final Cardinals run in the game.

Kenyon-Wanamingo opened the bottom of the 7th with a Greseth hit ball ending in an error by the Cardinals. She would eventually score on a passed ball making the final 10-2.

I counted Flom with 129 total pitches thrown in the game. 8 strikeouts, 5 walks, 3 hit batters, 8 hits allowed. Flom finished with 71 strikes.

Wilson finished with 8 strikeouts, 2 walks. 1 hit batter while throwing 96 pitches, 61 for strikes.

Line totals were:

Bethlehem Academy 10 runs, 8 hits 1 error, 5 left on base, 5 in scoring position. Kenyon-Wanaming 2 runs, 2 hits, 3 errors, 4 runners left, 4 in scoring position.

The Cashwise Foods and Pharmacy Delivery of the Game was awarded to Knights shortstop Allina Mendoza for two outstanding plays in the field.

The BA Cashwise Delivery went to Cardinals pitcher Wilson for her season opening effort.

BA Pitcher Morgan Wilson warms up with Reagan Kangas. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

The Malecha's Auto Body Crunch Time Faribault Player of the Game was Anna Tobin with her two triples, single and 3 RBI.

The Cardinals are at Goodhue Tuesday, April 11, 2023 while the Knights go to United South Central in Wells. Both games are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.

I will be in Austin for the Owatonna Huskies Big Nine opener in softball. About 4:50 p.m. we will be on the KAT KOUNTRY 105 (104.9FM) airwaves.

Other fast pitch contests Tuesday include these games at 4:30 p.m.