LAS VEGAS — Before the postseason started, the Battle Mountain High School softball team was the fourth seed in the regional tournament and not expected to advance through the first couple rounds.
However, the Lady Longhorns shocked everyone by defeating the top two seeds in consecutive games to advance to the state tournament.
Battle Mountain was in Las Vegas last weekend, looking to keep its Cinderella season going. The Lady Longhorns had a tough match-up in the opener, against Lincoln County, the Division III South champion.
The Lynx behind strong pitching and good defense shut out the Lady Longhorns 13-0 on Thursday at The Meadows School. Lincoln County pitcher Aspen Wilkin retired the first 10 Battle Mountain batters on her way to throwing a no hitter. Battle Mountain’s Kali Kester was the only Lady Longhorn to reach base, after an error by Lincoln County’s second baseman.
Lincoln County hit four home runs in the contest and led 4-0 after one inning with the aid of a two-run home run by Wilkin.
Leading 7-0 after three innings, Lincoln County added six runs in the bottom of the fourth, on the strength of two more home runs.
Jade Harkness started for Battle Mountain and gave up 11 runs (nine earned) in 3.1 innings of work. She allowed 10 hits and she walked one. Kylie Sondermann threw the final .2 innings.
“We were a little nervous coming in,” said BMHS coach Mike Sondermann. “Lincoln County made a few good plays on defense and we were never able to figure out the pitcher. We didn’t have the right approach at the plate.”
In Friday’s elimination game against White Pine, the results were instantly better for Battle Mountain, as Itzela Martinez opened the game with a sharply hit ball to the outfield.
However, the Lady Longhorns had the first two innings end with double plays, ending any rally. White Pine used a Battle Mountain error and wild pitch to lead 1-0 after an inning of play. The Bobcats’ Brittney Kingston added a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to go in front.
Battle Mountain broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. After a ground out to start the frame, Liscet Diaz singled and Riane Schroeder was hit by a pitch. Next, Martinez nearly tied the game, as she hit a ball off the fence to score two runs. Kester followed with a single to tie the game, scoring Martinez.
“We came out and played much better,” Sondermann. “I think on the first day, the girls were just happy to be playing in the state tournament. No one thought they would be here, being the fourth seed in the regional tournament.”
The Lady Longhorns went in front 4-3 in the top of the fourth, when Marissa Rogers reached base on an error. The freshman then stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Diaz kept the rally going with a double to plate Rogers.
Battle Mountain had its chances in the fifth inning, when Martinez reached base on an infield single. However, the Lady Longhorns hit in to three straight ground outs to end the frame.
White Pine broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning with five runs, aided by an error to start the frame. After a ground out, White Pine went in front for good on a two-run homer by Jane Murdock. Kingston added a two-RBI triple in the inning after hitting the ball off the fence. The ball took a sharp bounce off the temporary fence, allowing Kingston to advance to third base.
Battle Mountain rallied in the sixth inning, starting with a walk to Harkness. Ashley Haney and Diaz followed with singles to load the bases. But for the third time in the contest, the Lady Longhorns hit in to a double play ending the scoring threat.
Battle Mountain loaded the bases again in the seventh, with Sondermann reaching on an error and McKenna Jones walking and Rogers singling all with two outs. However a pop fly ended the game.
Martinez was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI to lead Battle Mountain (18-14-1). Diaz also had three hits, Rogers had two hits and Kester one
Harkness pitched a complete game, allowing eight runs (none earned) on six hits. She struck out two and walked two.
“It was a good year for us,” Sondermann said. “We had our chances against White Pine. We had a couple mistakes hurt us. I am very proud of the girls.”
