One of the most beautiful parts of the sports of baseball and softball is that there is no clock. You can't run out the clock, or play keep away. In high school, you have to record all 21 outs, or in the case of Friday evening's contest, 24 outs, as Luxemburg Casco outlasted Notre Dame 18-17 in an 8 inning game.
Notre Dame got on the board in the top of the first, when the first three baserunners reached base, including a 2 run home run by Tritons infielder Kaia Waldron. The Spartans were able to limit the damage after the long ball, getting out of the frame without any further damage. Luxemburg Casco did tack on a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit after hits from Alayna Deprez and Riley Westlund. The Tritons added on 6 runs, batting around in the second to build distance from LC. Down but not out, the Spartans added 3, cutting the deficit to 9-5 after 2 innings.
Both teams were held scoreless in the third, and in the 4th, Notre Dame added 3 more including a solo home run by Aubrey Wycoff. Luxemburg Casco responded by adding a pair, attempting to keep pace with the visiting Tritons. Notre Dame was held scoreless in the top of the 5th, setting the stage for Luxemburg Casco's rally. Abigail Buckmaster led the inning off with a walk, sparking 4 straight Spartans to reach base, before Ryland Kaminski was retired on a sacrifice fly that scored a run. The Spartans rattled off 4 straight hits before the next out came on a Buckmaster sac fly, also scoring a run. In total, LC rallied for an 8 run 5th inning to grab a 15-12 lead. In the 6th, the Tritons did cut into the deficit after Stella Starry worked a lead off walk, and was granted a courtesy runner for the catcher, who came around to score in the frame. The Spartans were held in check in the 6th, and went into the top of the 7th with a 15-13 advantage. Hits by Addyson Simpson and Kaia Waldrop, followed by walks from Emma Ciak and Starry started off the inning, with each girl coming around to score, putting the Tritons back in front, taking a 17-15 advantage into the bottom of the 7th. Luxemburg Casco managed to tie the game, and had a chance to win, with runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Unfortunately, a fly out that saw Gracie Jandrin try to tag up and score the game winning run was not quite deep enough, as she was thrown out at the plate to end the 7th. Jasmin Jandrin was back in the circle to start the 8th, and retired the side in order, bringing the Spartans back to the plate with a chance to win. Kaminski led the inning off with a double, her third of the game, and advanced on a throwing error by Tritons pitcher Ella Nowak, trying to throw out Claire Schleis. Notre Dame elected to intentionally walk Stella Schleis to load the bases, trying to set up the force play at home, and were almost rewarded when Deprez was retired on a pop fly. However, it was Westlund that would play hero, as she took a hit by pitch to the lower leg to walk off NDA in the 8th.
Jasmin Jandrin earned the win, as the Spartans remain perfect on the season, moving to 8-0, ahead of its next contest, a home game scheduled for Monday against NEC foe Oconto Falls.
