Emotional roller coaster ends with Fatima losing 6-5 to Warsaw in sectional round

Neal A. Johnson
Posted 10/30/19

Fatima’s sectional game at Warsaw last Thursday was an emotional roller coaster, a ride that ended with the Lady Comets (17-10) falling 6-5 to the Lady Wildcats.

“We were feeling …

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Emotional roller coaster ends with Fatima losing 6-5 to Warsaw in sectional round

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Fatima’s sectional game at Warsaw last Thursday was an emotional roller coaster, a ride that ended with the Lady Comets (17-10) falling 6-5 to the Lady Wildcats.


“We were feeling pretty good about our situation,” said Coach Dana Scheppers.


That would be right after Chesney Luebbering (1-3) hit her second home run in as many games to give Fatima a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second.


Chayce Gier got the scoring effort started with a one-out walk. With two outs, Laney Bassett entered for Gier as a courtesy runner, and moved to second on a single by Ellie Brune (2-3). An error allowed Bassett to score and pushed Brune to second, which set the stage for Luebbering, who delivered a monster shot over the left field fence.


Just like that, Fatima led 3-0, and things were looking nvery good.


However, a couple errors and a hit led to a run for Warsaw in the top of the third, and then with two aboard, a home run erased the deficit and gave the Lady Wildcats a 4-3 lead.


“When the game turns like that, it’s difficult to get your head around,” said Scheppers. “Chayce was down on herself, but she threw a good pitch, and the girl had to go down and get it.”


The situation could have completely derailed the train but that didn’t happen.


“There was a lot of emotion,” said Scheppers. “You go from being happy to suddenly deflated, and it’s easy to let that get you down. The girls were down for a couple innings but then they fought back, and I’m so proud of them for that.”


While the offense saw a couple hits in the bottom of the fourth, one from Lauren Brandt (1-3), the other from Molly Kloeppel (2-3), Fatima couldn’t bring them home.


Warsaw added two runs in the top of the fifth after a hit batter and an error were mixed with a couple singles.


“We win and lose as a team,” said Scheppers.


“Everyone owns a piece of this, and the girls knew that. We kept telling them to focus, to remember how they got here, and that they were capable of winning this game.”


The continual pep talks kept the Lady Comets in good form, and in the bottom of the sixth, they made a great push to score two runs.


Karli Struemph hit a line drive and reached on an error to start the frame Anna Eichholz entered as pinch runner. Ally Havens (1-4) followed up with a single, and with two aboard, Bassett took over for Eichholz and advanced to third on Havens’ hit.


With one out, Gier hit an RBI groundout to plated Bassett, but Havens was held up at second.


Kloeppel came through with a two-out single to center field that scored Havens, and Fatima trailed 6-5. Brune also singled but Luebbering hit into a mfielder’s choice to end the inning.


Gier, who finished with three strikeouts and no walks, got around a twoout
single in the top of seventh. She was not charged with any earned runs on eight hits.


In the bottom of the frame, the Lady Comets went to work in what was very nearly a victory.


Londyn Stuckenschneider (1-4) doubled to center, and Rachel Woehr entered the game to run for her. A Struemph groundout moved Woehr to third but gave Fatima two outs, and a groundout ended the game.


“This was the biggest game some of these players had been in, and being on the road made it even tougher,” said Scheppers.


“We had a few miscues, and we knew we’d need to play our best softball to beat this team. I hate to see the season end this way, but the girls have every reason to be happy with their season.”