Softball: Tigers consolation champs at Mankato

Ashley Betzold win, save at Mankato (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Tigers finally got to take their 2013 show into the elements over the weekend, winning two of three games while claiming the consolation championship at the the eight-team Mankato East Invitational tournament played Friday and Saturday at Caswell Park in Mankato.

Coach Paul Harrington's defending Missota Conference and Section 1AAA champions might have fared even better had they not squandered a 4-0 lead in an opening round 6-4 loss to defending state Class 2A champion New Ulm.

Farmington came back to down Winona Cotter 5-3 in the consolation semifinals and then battered Tartan 9-1 to take home the consolation championship hardware.

Harrington said his team's first outdoor appearance of the belated spring had its high points, including out-hitting all three opponents and consistently getting runners on base.

"But we left 25 runners on in the three games and that's too many," he said. "Thirteen of them were in scoring position. We need more timely hitting.

"Defense was also a problem. We gave up 10 runs in the three games and only two of them were earned. Too many errors."

The defense knocked the Tigers out of the tournament opener. Leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Harrington said his team experienced a "defensive letdown" that cost it the game.

"New Ulm hadn't threatened in the game until then," he said.

The defending state champs turned the Farmington fielding miscues into six unearned runs and pushed the Tigers into the consolation bracket.

Amber Doyle rapped a pair of hits, including a triple, and knocked in a pair of runs and Ashley Betzold went 2-3 to lead the Farmington offense. Kendall Novak scored twice.

Betzold went the distance in the circle, scattering four hits and striking out six batters.

Amber Doyle 2-3, 3B, 2RBI vs. New Ulm (photo by Jim Lindquist)

In the second round victory over Cotter, Maddie Muelken picked up the win in her first varsity start, allowing just three hits in five innings. Betzold pitched the final two frames and struck out four to record the save.

Muelken also led the Tigers at the plate, stroking a pair of doubles in three plate appearances.

Betzold was back in the circle for the fifth place game and allowed seven hits while striking out four and giving up just one run.

Toni Hunsinger and Molly Berdan each rapped a pair of hits and scored a run for the winners. Taylor Yousse scored twice, once on a suicide squeeze bunt by Doyle.

Betzold and Muelken were selected to the all-tournament team.

Tuesday the Tigers open the shortened Missota Conference season with a home doubleheader with New Prague. The first game is scheduled for 3:15 at Tiger Field.