DIETERICH — Kadi Borries’ two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning capped off a four-run frame for the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes and pushed T-Town past Dieterich 12-7 Friday afternoon.
After falling behind early, Teutopolis stormed ahead to take an 8-3 lead by the bottom of the fifth. But Dieterich scored four in the sixth off Borries, suddenly making it a brand new ball game.
But Borries took matters back into her own hands, and put the final nail in the coffin with a deep home run to dead center field. The freshman played a huge role for the Shoes, relieving starter Kaitlin Smith after just one inning.
She earned the win on the mound, and while her home run was her only hit of the day, it was a big one.
”She’s young, but she’s got a lot of experience,” said Teutopolis coach Rich Niebrugge. “It speaks volumes on her approach to the game. She puts the bat on the ball pretty well.”
The game was initially scheduled to be played in Teutopolis, but the Shoes were forced to be the home team on the road for the second consecutive day as the game was moved to Dieterich.
For the Movin’ Maroons, it was about a good a game as they could ask for against last year’s National Trail Conference champions.
“Being 8-7 against T-Town going in to the bottom of the sixth is as close to a win as we’re going to get,” said coach Scott Kocher. “I’m proud of the girls.”
Dieterich jumped all over Smith in the first inning. Sydney Higgs drew a one-out walk, only to come around to score right away on an RBI triple by Mallorie Vahling. Mikaela Cox dove Vahling in with a single to make it 2-0.
Shelby Wendling reached on a single but was thrown out trying to take an extra base, and then Taylor Wright walked. Smith escaped the inning by striking out Whitley Brummer.
Heidi Thoele led the second inning off with a single, forcing Niebrugge to pull Smith early in favor of Borries.
”Kaitlin’s looked good in the gym,” Niebrugge said. “It wasn’t her night, she’ll get another shot.
”Kadi came in, gave us a solid effort. She didn’t have her best stuff either, but she found way.”
Borries righted the ship, keeping it 2-0 until the bottom of the third. Teutopolis would take the lead on a two-run double by Anni Borries and a two-run single by Allison Apke.
Up 4-2, the Shoes went back to the well in the fourth, scoring two more on an Apke triple. Apke was thrown out at the plate trying for an inside-the-park home run. Courtney Mersman knocked in another run before the end of the frame.
Dieterich scored once in the fifth, when Wendling scored on a wild pitch by Kadi Borries. Anni Borries drove home a run of her own in the bottom of the fifth off Sydney Higgs, who relieved Thoele.
Borries retired the first two batters of the sixth, only to load the bases and give up four runs on a pair of two-run singles by Cox and Wendling to make it 8-7 Teutopolis.
The threat ended there, as a sacrifice fly by Holly Dust and an RBI single by Julie Waldhoff set up Borries’ big home run.
”It was just a battle,” Niebrugge said. “Our girls, they didn’t quit either. We had a few lapses in intensity tonight. We’ve got to learn we can’t have those lapses.”
Madison Cowman slammed the door in the seventh for Teutopolis, who moved to 2-0.
Apke was 3-for-4 with four RBI and a triple, Anni Borries went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI and Kadi Borries had two RBI with her home run.
Vahling led Dieterich by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a triple, while Cox drove in three runs of her own.
“We played pretty well,” Kocher said. “We hung in there, kept it close right to the end.”
Dieterich (0-1) faces St. Elmo/Brownstown at 4:15 p.m. Monday in a road contest, while Teutopolis is scheduled to host Salem Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Ryan Czachorski can be reached at 217-347-7151, ext. 135, or at ryan.czachorski@effinghamdailynews.com.
Teutopolis 12, Dieterich 7
Dieterich 200 014 0 — 8 9 2
Teutopolis 004 315 X — 12 10 0
WP — K. Borries LP — Thoele
Dieterich: Vahling (3-4, 3B, 1 RBI); Cox (3 RBI)
Teutopolis: A. Borries (3-4, 2B, 3 RBI); Apke (3-4, 3B, 4 RBI); K. Borries (1-4, HR, 2 RBI)
