Cardinal girls runners-up in softball invitational

Talk about it

The Cardinal softball team finished second in its own four-team tournament Saturday, shutting out Minneapolis Southwest in the opener 10-0, then falling to a very tough St. Michael-Albertville 2-0 in the championship.

Pitcher Jacque Brown picked up her second shutout in as many outings for the Cardinals as she went all five innings, giving up just two hits while striking out two and walking only one.

Alexandria’s offense had a four-star game against Southwest, knocking out 11 hits in the game, including two home runs.

Sam Dale had the first of the two, bringing home a pair of runs in the first inning, and Ally Teclaw added her own two-run homer in the fourth.

In between the home runs, Alexandria brought six runs home as Gracie Bruzek rapped a two-run double in the second, with Dale hitting a two-run single in the fourth.

Carrie Wendlandt had an RBI double and Courtney Richardson an RBI single in the fourth.

In the championship, the Cardinals ran into a solid St. Michael-Albertville team in a game that proved to be a pitchers’ duel.

Dani Bany had an excellent outing as she went the distance, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out three.

“She pitched probably one of her best games of the year,” said coach Bob Cunniff of Bany’s outing. “A couple of bloop singles cost us.”

Alexandria had runners in scoring position throughout the game, eight in all, but weren’t able to bring them home.

“Twice we had runners on second and third with our best hitters at bat, but just couldn’t get that big hit,” Cunniff said.

St. Michael-Albertville has lost just once this season.

Alexandria has a big week on tap as they were to have played undefeated and league-leading Brainerd on Tuesday in a doubleheader, then play a one-loss Willmar team at home tomorrow, Thursday.

GAME SCORECARDS

MPLS SW 000 00 0-2-1

ALEXANDRIA 220 6X 10-11-0

PITCHING – Jacque Brown, WP, 5IP-2H-0R-0ER-1BB-2SO.

HITTING – Kate Gearman 2 hits, 1 run; Sam Dale 2 hits, 4 rbi; 2 runs; Allie Thul 2 hits, 2 runs; Gracie Bruzek 1 hit, 2 rbi, 1 run; Courtney Richardson 1 hit, 1 rbi, 1 run; Ally Teclaw 1 hit, 2 rbi, 1 run; Carrie Wendland 1 hit, 1 rbi, 2 runs; Alicia Montbriand 1 hit.

STMA 020 000 0 2-6-0

ALEXANDRIA 000 000 0 0-4-0

PITCHING – Dani Bany, LP, 7IP-6H-2R-2ER-1BB-2SO.

HITTING – Morical 2, Thul 1, Gearman 1.

RECORD – 6-2 CLC, 8-4 overall.

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, softball, cardinals, invitational