MHS will host next week’s regional
Sports editor
Sarah Guetersloh and the Marion softball team came out swinging.
The sophomore led a surprise hitting attack Friday that saw the Warriors amass 26 hits and 11 runs in two games, but the team still lost, 10-7 and 14-4.
Guetersloh was 6-for-7 with a double and a run scored during the doubleheader.
In her past three games she is 8-for-11 and raised her batting average from .179 to .353.
“We have been doing a lot more batting in practice,” Guetersloh said.
It must have paid off, and not just for Guetersloh.
The team hit .433 in the two games as Alex Cain was 5-for-7 and Brooke Johnson 3-for-8, including 3-for-4 in game two.
Head coach Sandy Black said aggressiveness has played a big part in the team’s turnaround at the plate.
“The biggest difference is the girls are swinging the bat instead of watching two strikes go by,” Black said. “I have been like a broken record repeating, ‘You have to swing the bat in order to hit the ball. Once you watch two strikes go by you have allowed yourself to have to swing at a pitch that may not be so good’.
“I have told the girls I would much rather have them strike out swinging aggressively than no swinging and striking out.”
The Warriors seemed to take Black’s advice, but the Lady Lions might have heard the same thing from their coaches.
Lyons pounded out 15 hits and 24 runs in the doubleheader.
The losses dropped Marion to 2-16 on the season. The Warriors finished the year Tuesday at home against Hesston but results were not available by press time.
MHS will be the seventh seed in the regional tournament which beings Monday at Marion.
There are only seven teams, meaning the number one seed will receive a bye into the second round.
Guetersloh is excited for the home regional.
“I’m really glad we don’t have to go to a different field,” she said. “It kind of boosts our confidence — like, ‘Watch out this is our town’.”
Black said it is nice to play host, but she is hoping for more.
“It’s exciting hosting regionals,” she said. “It will be more exciting to win.”
For that to happen, Black said, the players must have their minds on softball and nothing else when on the field.
“Our girls feed off one another, so when one attitude pops up then the whole team falls apart,” Black said. We need to focus and play hard, but also need positive attitudes and (to) enjoy the game.
“Every one of the girls has to put her hearts into the game and really want to win. This means putting aside their differences and playing together.”
If that happens, all the losses during the regular season will not matter.
“I have told them we are as capable as any team to win if we get past our differences,” Black said. “We are not lacking talent by any means.”
Guetersloh seems to have the right attitude for the rest of the season.
After practicing at first base for most of the preseason, she has found herself in the outfield most of the year yet taking it in stride.
“I feel more comfortable at first base, but that’s OK,” Guetersloh said. “I’ll play the outfield. I’ll do it for the team.”
Regionals
The Warriors find out their opponent today after a seeding meeting.
The six schools competing other than Marion are Council Grove, Southeast of Saline, Herington/White City, Hillsboro, Hutchinson Trinity, and Sterling.
Play begins Monday with the championship game concluding the tournament May 21.