St. Anthony Wins NTC Tournament Championship

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Published on May 9 2022 8:47 pm
Last Updated on May 10 2022 6:30 am
Written by Greg Sapp

A four-run fifth inning propelled the St. Anthony Bulldogs to the championship of the National Trail Conference tournament. St. Anthony defeated Windsor/Stew-Stras 4-1 for the tournament title. The game at Evergreen Hollow Park was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com

In the other tournament finals Monday, South Central blanked Altamont 2-0 to win the third place game, while Dieterich downed Neoga 19-4 in five innings in the consolation championship game.

The title game was scoreless until Windsor/Stew-Stras scored a run in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, a pop-up fell behind Bulldogs shortstop Cameran Rios. The infield fly rule had been called for the second out, but the runner on third scored. St. Anthony tossed the ball to third for the force out, but the infield fly rule meant the batter was out, so no force was in effect so the runner would've had to be tagged to record an out. A strikeout then ended the inning, but the Hatchets were on the board.

St. Anthony's Anna Faber got a leadoff walk to start the fateful fifth inning. After Abby Hatten flied out for the first out, Addysen Rios singled, then Cameran Rios singled to tie the game 1-1. One out later, Hayley Niebrugge's two-run single gave the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. Lucy Fearday then tripled down the right field line to make it 4-1. The Hatchets' Alaira Friese ran a mile, but Fearday's ball glanced off Friese's glove for the three-bagger.

Lucy Fearday went the distance for St. Anthony, allowing just one hit, walking three and hitting a batter, but striking out nine.

WSS' Karlie Bean also pitched well, allowing the four runs on seven hits, walking three and fanning five.

At the plate for St. Anthony: Cameran Rios--two singles, run scored, RBI; Hayley Niebrugge--single, run scored, 2RBI; Lucy Fearday--triple, single, RBI; Maddie Kibler--walk; Anna Faber--two walks; Addysen Rios--two singles, run scored

At the plate for Windsor/Stew-Stras: Ella Kinkelaar--walk; Karlie Bean--walk; Maddie Pfeiffer--single, run scored; Ava Richards--walk, hit by pitch; Sam Hayes--hit by pitch; Gabby Vonderheide--RBI

St. Anthony improved to 21-3 on the season, while Windsor/Stew-Stras is 13-6. 

At Evergreen Hollow Park

WSS                         000    100    0    --    1-1-0

St. Anthony             000    040    x    --    4-7-1

WP -- Fearday. LP -- Bean.

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg -- Pfeiffer, single

St. Anthony -- C. Rios, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Niebrugge, single ,2 RBI; Fearday, single, triple, 1 RBI; A. Rios, 2 singles