Saline Softball Season Ends In Extra Innings

The softball season ended too early for the young Lady Hornets softball team Saturday, as the co-SEC Red champs battled in the district semifinal at Saline High School Saturday.

Bedford scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning and won 2-0.

Saline junior Kristina Zalewski shut down the Mules on just two hits over seven innings before the Mules got to her for two runs in the eighth.
The Hornets had six hits and several opportunities but couldn’t push a runner across the plate, leaving a runner on third in the third, fourth, sixth and eighth innings.

Coach Alicia Seegert the normal hard-hitting Hornets struggled because they didn’t get lead off runners on, and then they didn’t hit well with runners on and two outs.

“We do a lot of good things when we get our lead runners on,” said Seegert.

Zalewski took the loss, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out six. She also hit a Mule with a pitch.

“She did a great job and had a great game. She did everything we asked her to do,” said Seegert.

Zalewski put out a minor fire in the first after Bedford’s leadoff hitter reached on an error and took second on a two-out walk. Zalewski got out of the inning on a grounder to second.

In the third, the Hornets threatened with two outs. Kaylee Harmon doubled and Sam Bruley singled to put runners at first and third before the rally fizzled. In Saline’s fourth, Chelsie Leathers tripled with two outs and was left on base.

Bedford put its first two hitters aboard in the fifth before Zalewski put the Mules down in order, stranding the runners at second and third. Zalewski retired nine straight in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

In the sixth, with two outs, Katie Alexander reached base on an error, Leathers walked and Ashlee Harmon reached on an infield single before Bedford got out of the jam.

Bedford finally got on the board in the seventh. Kim Jesse singled to lead off. That brought up Jaycie Swick, who hit a grounder to short. Saline shortstop Laura Vaccaro tossed the ball to Sam Bruley, on her way to second as Jesse was sliding into the base. Jesse was called safe. Zalewski retired the next hitter on a fly ball to center. Jessi Warner followed by battling back from an 0-2 count and then hitting a double off the end of her bat to rightfield, scoring two runs.

Vaccaro led off the bottom of the inning with a double town the leftfield line. With two outs, Ashlee Harmon reached on an error to put runners at first and third. Alexis DeLand followed up by ripping a shot down the leftfield line. The ball fell foul by just a couple feet. She flew out to centerfield to end the game.

The only member of the young Hornets team graduating Sunday is Courtney Brown.

“I felt bad for Courtney. She’s a senior. She doesn’t get to come back. But everyone else now knows what this feels like,” said Seegert. “Now they know what they’re going to work towards for next year.”

Saline finished the season with a 29-8 record and a share of the SEC. Bedford lost to Monroe in the district final, 6-0.