Scarlets clinch Big Nine softball title

By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO May 15, 2008 04:30 pm

— No matter how many times you win a conference championship, each one is special. And not matter how many times you hit a softball, it’s still something to see it land on the other side of the fence.
“It’s really cool to watch it go over the fence,” said Mankato West’s Alyssa Black, whose second-inning home run was one of several hard-hit balls Wednesday in a 19-1 victory over Albert Lea that clinched another Big Nine Conference softball championship.
“It’s nice to hit it that good. It gives you a lot of confidence.”
The victory gave West (18-1, 16-0 in Big Nine) its third straight conference title and fourth in the last five years.
“It’s special,” coach Don Krusemark said. “It’s always one of our goals, that’s what we strive for. We had such a young team, and the Big Nine is pretty tough. We’ve come a long ways.”
The Scarlets put Wednesday’s game away early, scoring eight runs in the first inning. West scored 10 runs in the third, with each player scoring at least one run.
Ashley Veroeven had three long doubles, a single and four RBIs, and Nikki Starkson had three RBI singles. Miranda Bickett had two singles and walked twice, scoring four times, and Ashley Goettl was 3 for 3 with three runs scored.
Black added three hits, including the solo homer to lead off the second inning, with three RBIs and three runs scored.
“Coach Krusemark is always saying good defense and good pitching and timely hitting,” Black said. “We had all of those today.”
Starkson was the winning pitcher, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts in four innings. Vanessa Lloyd pitched the final inning as the Scarlets claimed another Big Nine title.
“It’s such a great accomplishment,” Black said.
West wraps up the regular season with a home game Friday against Austin. The Scarlets are the No. 1 seed for the Section 2AAA tournament, which begins Tuesday, with Prior Lake second and Mankato East third.
“The last two weeks, we’ve been really coming on with the sticks,” Krusemark said. “We’re getting good pitching, and our defense has been good all season. Our hitting is really picking up.”

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