The McLouth Bulldogs softball team defeated the Troy Trojans in Class 2A regional play and advance to the state tournament May 25-26 in Pratt.
by Bridget Weishaar
It was an episode of deja vu for the McLouth Bulldogs as they headed into regional softball play May 17.
Same location as the previous year, exact same four teams in the quarter finals, exact same championship match-up.
The 2-1 victory over the second seeded Troy Trojans was sweet revenge for the Bulldogs after falling to the Trojans in the 2022 championship, 0-1.
The regional win left the Bulldog team with an untarnished 23-0 record and the number one seed headed into state tournament play May 25-26 in Pratt.
With tension in the air and a huge fan base on both sides of the dugouts, senior Corissa Bandel opened on the mound in the champioship match up for the Lady Bulldogs, seeing only three batters. The first grounding out to third, the next two recorded as strikeouts.
The Bulldogs struck fast and early in the bottom of the first with lead off hitter, Bandel, reaching first on a single to the Troy shortstop. She made quick work on the base paths stealing second and eventually third, and then scoring on a wild pitch before the Trojans were able to shut down the Bulldogs.
The second inning was a pitchers dual with Bandel striking out three consecutive Trojans, as well as Troy’s standout pitcher, Paityn Engemann, doing the same. Engemann was designated the 2-1A pitcher of the year in 2022.
The top of the third inning brought five batters to the plate for the Trojans. Bandel gave up an early walk, followed by back-to-back strikeouts. Trojan sophomore Emerson Weber reached first base on an error, before Bandel could close out the inning with another strikeout, stranding two for the Trojan team.
It was three up and three down for the Bulldogs in the third.
Moving into the fourth inning, Troy threatened yet again when their second batter reached base on an error with one out in the inning. McLouth catcher Anna Patz shut down the Trojans when she caught a pop up in foul territory, catching the Troy runner off guard, she threw to first ending the inning on a double play.
The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth, scoring what would be their final run of the game, this time from sophomore Cresinda Bandel. Cresinda reached first on a single to center field, advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Jill Holwick before eventually crossing home plate.
The fifth inning was a quiet one for both teams with Bandel giving up a walk before striking out the next three Trojan batters.
The Bulldogs sent three to the plate with two strikeouts and a ground out recorded for Troy.
The McLouth defense went to work in the sixth, putting away the first Troy batter on a ground out, followed by the next two popping up in the infield.
Bandel gave up her one and only run of regional play in the seventh inning when Troy Trojan Cayley Grable hit a solo home run shot over the center field fence. Bandel struck out the last two batters for Troy, picking up the 2-1 win.
Earlier this season, the Bulldogs defeated the Trojans in a double-header, 6-2 and 15-0 in just four innings.
The Bulldogs were the number one seed in regional play facing the Pleasant Ridge Rams in the first round. The Bulldogs sent the Rams packing 15-0. In the second round, McLouth defeated the Valley Falls Dragons 10-0 before reaching the championship match.
Bandel gets the credit as winning pitcher in the championship game striking out 15 batters. Sophomore Dani Lee picked up the win against the Valley Falls Dragons, recording 14 strikeouts.
Rainy weather early in the week saw Monday’s games canceled and Tuesday’s games moved to Leavenworth, before the bracket continued on Wednesday afternoon in Wathena.
The Bulldog team allowed only nine runs to cross home plate against them this season. The ACCHS Tigers scoring one; Oskaloosa Bears, one; Valley Falls Dragons, one; three came from the first-year team from Jefferson County North; two by the Trojans pre-regional play, and one in the championship match. The Lady Bulldogs scored 297 runs over the course of the season.
On the season thus far, Bandel has faced 205 batters, striking out 144; Lee seeing 158, recording 107 strikeouts.
Lee hit two home runs on the week scoring five runs in the 10-0 win over the Dragons
In post game interview, head coach Ballard Patterson takes full credit for the single home run given up by Bandel.
“The home run was my fault. I got off the script for one pitch and it cost me. She made the pitch I called,” Patterson said.
Patterson has 15 years experience as coach for the McLouth Bulldogs. He retired in 2019 after a bout with cancer, returning this season just in time to accompany his team to the state tournament.
The teams assistant coach, Samantha Freeman, is no stranger to state tournament play. Freeman playing for the Bulldogs during her high school career hit a walk off double in the eighth inning to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 win in the 3A third-place game in 2008.
This will be the Lady Bulldogs seventh state tournament appearance in the school's history. The last one in 2017 when the team, also coached by Patterson, placed third.
The Bulldogs will take to the field at 5 p.m. May 25 against Hillsboro High School. If they advance, the second round will be at 11 a.m. May 26.