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By Nate Ritchey
nritchey@altoonamirror.com
PORTAGE -- Clinging to a one-run lead, Portage got its bats going in the third inning of a contest with Bishop Carroll.
That inning proved to be the difference as the Lady Mustangs held on for a 5-2 victory over the Lady Huskies in District 6 Class 1A first-round playoff action on Thursday afternoon.
"Stringing those clutch hits together made the momentum shift," Portage coach Madison Baumgardner said. "I know that with our team, especially, hitting is contagious. So, if we can get those couple together than it's real easy to continue on."
Both pitchers, Portage's Paige Phillips and Bishop Carroll's Jaden Strittmatter kept the other team in check for most of the day.
However, the Mustangs' Sydney Castel would get to Strittmatter in the second when she battled back from a 0-2 count to connect on a solo home run to right-centerfield.
"Basically, after my hit, it picked everyone up -- they just followed through after me," Sydney Castel said. "All of the hitting picked up and our fielding was good as well."
With one out in the third, Portage lead off hitter Makenna Redfern came through with a single.
Tori Harrison reached on a single out in front of the plate. When the already late throw skipped off the dirt and into right field, Redfern came around to score and Harrison would move to second.
Lyndsey Castel struck out for the second out, but the Lady Mustangs weren't done as Payton Noll rocketed a double to the right-centerfield fence to plate Harrison.
Sydney Castel roped a triple to right field to score Noll, and then crossed home when Lily Koban singled to right. Koban was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit to a double to end the inning.
"That was typically the story of our season -- we would give up the big inning," Bishop Carroll coach Tim Golden said. "We've been really working on mental focus. If we make a mistake, get rid of it. It doesn't bother our team anymore like it did earlier in the season."
The Lady Huskies started a one-out rally of their own in the sixth as Mary Golden singled to left, moved to second on Ali Heinrich's single and both moved up a base on a passed ball.
After Strittmatter struck out, Elaina Smith singled to drive in Mary Golden and Heinrich.
"I was proud of the bottom half of our order," Coach Golden said. "Elaina Smith with the two RBIs and ... three hits today. You stepped up, and sometimes we just need everybody to step up at the same time, so it makes it a different ball game."
Phillips got Taylor Diehl swinging to end the inning and then retired the side in the seventh on two line outs and a strikeout to end the game.
"I think today is the best game we've played in a long time defensively," Baumgardner said. "So, to see it all come together was a really fun thing to see and watching the girls have fun."
Sydney Castel got up three times and delivered a single in addition to the homer and triple.
Phillips struck out nine, walked one and gave up five hits to record the win.
Strittmatter scattered seven hits and tallied seven strikeouts.
Portage advances to Monday's quarterfinal at West Branch at 4 p.m.
BISHOP CARROLL (2): Myers cf 300, Sheesly 2b 300, Golden ss 211, Heinrich c 311, Strittmatter p 300, Smith 3b 303, Diehl 1b 100, Dzabo lf 200, Pablic rf 300. Totals -- 23 2 5.
PORTAGE (5): Redfern cf 311, Harrison lf 311, L. Castel 3b 200, Noll 1b 311, S. Castel c 323, Koban dp 301, Boland flex 000, Phillips p 300, Slanoc rf 200, Trusik 200. Totals -- 24 5 7.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Bishop Carroll 000 002 0 -- 2 5 3
Portage 014 000 X -- 5 7 1
E--Myers, Strittmatter, Pablic, Phillips. 2B--Noll. 3B--S. Castel. HR--S. Castel. RBI--Smith 2, S. Castel 2, Noll, Koban. SB--none. CS--none. WP--none. PB--S. Castel 2.
PITCHING
Bishop Carroll: Strittmatter (L) -- 6 innings, 7 H, 7 K, 0 BB, 5 R, 4 ER, 98 pitches.
Portage: Phillips (W) -- 7 innings, 5 H, 9 K, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 ER, 93 pitches.
Records: Bishop Carroll (3-15); Portage (9-10).