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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
INDEPENDENCE – Columbus Catholic fought back from an early deficit, but Independence/Gilmanton was able to push across a run in the bottom of the sixth inning and pull out a 4-3 win in a WIAA Division 5 softball sectional semifinal on Monday at Independence High School.
Independence/Gilmanton (13-12) moves on to a D-5 sectional final against Seneca (16-5) on Wednesday at Bangor. The winner moves on the WIAA State Softball Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on June 28.
The Indies did not scratch out a hit against Columbus Catholic pitcher Hailey Zimmermann, but were able to plate four runs thanks to six errors by the Dons.
Independence/Gilmanton scored twice in the first inning, and after Columbus Catholic scored in the third, the Indies answered with a run.
The Dons, making their first-ever sectional appearance, plated single runs in the fifth and sixth before I/G was able to plate the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth.
Zimmermann finished with five strikeouts and two walks, and also went 2-for-4 and scored a run for Columbus Catholic (8-10).
Cierra Dieringer had a single, a double and an RBI, Mattea Schlafke also had two hits, and Alyssa Rueth and Sam Casperson had RBIs for the Dons.
Indies 4, Dons 3
Columbus Catholic 001 011 0 – 3 8 6
Independence/Gilmanton 201 001 x – 4 0 2
WP: Emerson Pronschinske. LP: Hailey Zimmermann.
SO: Zimmermann 5; E. Pronschinske 4. BB: Zimmermann 2; E. Pronschinske 1.
Top hitters: CC, Cierra Dieringer 2×4, 2B, RBI; Sam Casperson 1×4, RBI; Zimmermann 2×4; Mattea Schlafke 2×2, 2 runs.
Records: Columbus Catholic 8-10; Independence/Gilmanton 13-12.