BEMIDJI 鈥� Few people at the Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 softball field thought the ball off Karley LaZella鈥檚 bat would sail over the fence in the bottom of the seventh inning, including LaZella.
鈥淚 knew it had enough juice,鈥� head coach Brad Takkunen said,鈥� I just didn鈥檛 know if it had enough carry.鈥�
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LaZella said: 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 feel like a home run. I lunged, and I kind of thought, 鈥極h, crap. That鈥檚 a pop up.鈥� Then I saw it go over and thought, 鈥極h, crap, that鈥檚 a home run.鈥� 鈥� It felt pretty good, knowing that I鈥檓 the underdog on the field.鈥�
On the surface, the BHS starting pitcher who hits third in the lineup doesn't have much of an argument to be an 鈥渦nderdog.鈥� But considering she鈥檚 a sophomore playing in her first varsity season, her exposure to pressure-packed moments, like the one she was in to give the Lumberjacks a 7-6 walk-off win over Sauk Rapids-Rice, are few and far between.
Her at-bat to lead off the seventh inning was amplified after the Storm tied the game in the top of the frame.
Tailing 6-4, Sauk Rapids-Rice put its first three runners on base with an error, a walk and a batter hit by a pitch. Brooklyn Diskerud tied the game with a two-RBI single before the Jacks recorded an out.
LaZella, however, hung tough in the circle. She struck out the next three batters before hitting the game-winning home run to notch Bemidji鈥檚 first Section 8-4A win this season.
She did it after falling down 0-2 at the plate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something that can take you to a place where you say, 鈥業 can do that,鈥欌�� Takkunen said, 鈥淵ou have an opportunity to get on base and it鈥檚 0-2, and you find a pitch that you can drive like that, I don鈥檛 care if you鈥檙e a sophomore, junior or senior, it鈥檚 tough. To do it as a sophomore, it鈥檚 impressive.鈥�
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Sauk Rapids-Rice struck first with a two-run first inning. Julia Skog singled in a run before Diskerud brought her home with an RBI triple.
The Lumberjacks have allowed runs in the first inning in each of their six games this season. However, they鈥檝e been excellent at responding with runs of their own.
鈥淲e鈥檙e giving up runs, but I feel like we make up for it fast, too,鈥� LaZella said. 鈥淲e all know each other, we all like working together. When one person is down, another person will pick them up. We all just go. If we give up a run, go back and get another one.鈥�
Trailing 2-0 against the Storm, Emma Greiner reached base with a single before Sammy Nistler got on via an error. LaZella sliced the deficit in half before bringing home Greiner with a single.
The Jacks weren鈥檛 done there. Olivia Birt gave Bemidji the lead with a two-run single before Ridley Hadrava made it 4-2 with another RBI single. Bemidji scored two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, thanks to Nistler鈥檚 fielder鈥檚 choice and Maya Schmidt鈥檚 bases-loaded walk.
LaZella went 3 for 4 at the plate with three RBIs. Hadrava also had a couple of hits, while Jordan Pemberton laced a double in a 2 for 3 day.
鈥淲e need baserunners,鈥� Takkunen said. 鈥淚n our last game, when we struck out as many times as we did, we had to refocus to get our bat on the ball more. It was a much better effort 鈥� granted, against a different pitcher 鈥� when it came to barreling those balls up. If you can get nine or 10 hits with our pitching and out defense, we should find ways to win.鈥�
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LaZella tossed all seven innings for BHS, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and three walks with five strikeouts. She got some helping hands from her defenders behind her, including Hadrava and Pemberton鈥檚 outfield catches to take away extra-base hits from the Strom in the middle innings
鈥淩idley is like a sister to me, and I feel like we have a connection there between a pitcher and a fielder,鈥� LaZella said. 鈥淥nce she caught that, I felt so happy. Jordan just knows what she鈥檚 doing out there. She鈥檚 been out there for a long time. I feel confident that they can make plays when the ball is hit to them.鈥�
Last season, Bemidji (4-2) went 2-8 against Section 8-4A teams. The Lumberjacks are 1-0 against potential postseason opponents through six games after taking down Sauk Rapids-Rice (2-6), despite nearly blowing a four-run lead after the second inning.
鈥淭o get a section win is very, very big, especially when you鈥檙e up 6-2,鈥� Takkunen said. 鈥淭he reality is that it gives a team confidence. If we can build off of this, hopefully, we can continue to play hard and continue to play like we know we can, and that can set a tone. That tone can be everything for a team that鈥檚 trying to be more consistent and be that team that pays everyone tough.鈥�
Bemidji 7, Sauk Rapids-Rice 6
SR 200 200 2 鈥� 6-7-2
BHS 420 000 1 鈥� 7-8-3
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WP: LaZella (7 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
LP: Turck (6 IP, 8 H, 7 R 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
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