Wildcasts were leading 3-0 after second inning
It was looking great for Blair-Taylor High School’s softball team, in its first-ever trip to the state championship.
The Wildcats put up two runs in the first, another in the third and, in softball, sometimes that’s all you need.
Errors, however, were Blair-Taylor’s undoing.
McDonnell Catholic took advantage of eight B-T errors that led to seven unearned runs, and won the Division 5 state championship 8-3.
Up 3-0 heading into the fourth, the Wildcats (24-4) committed four errors that led to two unearned runs.
B-T, however, maintained that 3-2 lead until the sixth inning when two more errors led to three unearned runs. Nearly the same thing happened in the top of the sevent – two more errors led to three runs, two unearned.
B-T pitcher Lauren Steien struck out four, walked two and gave up seven hits in the loss. Of those eight runs scored, the freshman gave up just one earned.
Her counterpart, Megan Baier, struck out three and walked three, giving up six hits and three earned runs for McDonell (22-4).
Steien helped her own cause in the first inning, with a two-out, two-run double.
B-T scored on a bases-loaded walk in the third inning. Baier settled down after that – giving up just two hits the rest of the way.
McKenna Nehring was 2-for-4 for the Wildcats.