The Faribault Bethlehem Academy Cardinals left little doubt who the superior team was Monday in Section 1 Class 1A West Subsection playoff action. The Cardinals cruised to a 16-1 four-inning win with 13 hits in the four innings against the Wolverines.

Senior Shelby Meyer allowed just two hits while improving her record to 8-3 in her 13th appearance of the season, and I don't believe the run was earned.

Bethlehem Academy came into the game with a hefty .411 team batting average and they certainly padded that while nearly hitting for the cycle as a team. They only missed a home run.

Meyer had a seven-pitch first inning to set the tone in the pitching circle and the Cardinals had 11 batters go to the plate in a six-run first inning.

The Wolverines came into the game with one win on the season and the No. 2 seed Bethlehem Academy picked up their 15th win.

Junior Tess Glenzinski started the game doing what she does, get on base and then steal second and go to third on an error made while trying to stop her from taking the base.

Senior Breanna Degrood walked. Junior Grace Viland popped out to first base. Meyer hit the ball to short and picked up an RBI on an error. She would be at second on a passed ball.

Junior Meagan Donahue smacked an RBI single to right center and then stole second. Junior Jessica Oathoudt was safe on an error and then stole second base. Freshman Kate Jasinski hit an RBI single and stole second.

Freshman Delaney Donahue continued the onslaught with a two-RBI double and stole third. During the at bat of sophomore Nicole Menard, Donahue was thrown out while trying to steal home. Menard would be walked. Glenzinski then singled for her second hit of the inning and Degrood hit a grounder to short, retiring Menard trying to go to third to end the inning.

Meyer had an 11-pitch second inning with Glenville-Emmons going up and down in order and the hot bats continued with three more runs on five successive hits in the Cardinals at bats.

Viland smacked a double to start the hit parade and Meyer clubbed an over the center fielder head triple. Meagan Donahue followed with an RBI single and a pinch runner came in and was picked off first base.

Oathoudt had a single and stole second then went to third base on an error before Jasinski's RBI double. Jasinski was thrown out trying to get to third base on a ball blocked nicely by the Wolverine senior catcher Kayla Gerber.

Meyer had a 12-pitch third inning and gave up the first hit of the game for Glenville-Emmons. A bloop single to right field by No. 8 hitter sophomore Mackenzie Hansen.

The third inning had walk after walk after walk recorded, and it was tough to watch. I felt bad for senior pitcher Lani Poole because at no time did anybody come to the pitching circle to encourage her, not the catcher and not any of her coaches.

There were five walks in the inning and four consecutive at one point before Meagan Donahue and Oathoudt collected back-to-back RBI singles. By this time, Bethlehem Academy did not attempt to steal with five more runs scored to take a 14-0 lead.

The Wolverines collected their only run in the top of the fourth inning.

With one out Meyer hit the No. 3 batter, senior catcher Gerber, and after a ground out Poole clubbed a solid single to right center that got by an outfielder, allowing Gerber's courtesy runner to score.

The game ended in the bottom of the fourth by the 15 run after three innings mercy rule.

Glenzinski opened the inning with a walk and stole second going to third on an error. She came home on a ground out. Viland was safe on an error and scored the game-clinching run on an RBI single by Meagan Donahue.

Our Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the game courtesy of Jason Krohn and Tony Langerud were Meyer, for throwing a two-hitter with four strikeouts in four innings and 42 total pitches, 32 for strikes. Meagan Donahue had four hits and four RBI, giving her 22 RBI on the season and 29 hits in 19 games. Tess Glenzinski was on base all four times stepping into the batter's box and picked up her 35th and 36th stolen bases of the season while scoring three runs. Jessica Oathoudt was on base all three times she was up to the plate with two singles and two stolen bases and an RBI. Kate Jasinski had two RBI and a single and a double in the game.

Bethlehem Academy had eight stolen bases in the four innings, giving them 106 on the season. Meyer clubbed her third triple and Viland collected her team-leading 10th double and 24th RBI.

Bethlehem Academy now goes into the double elimination portion of the tournament and will play state-ranked Blooming Prairie on Wednesday at Alexander Park. The two teams split during the regular season with the Cardinals losing 7-4 in Blooming Prairie and winning just last Friday 5-0 at home.

BA Athletic Director Ed Friesen anticipated a 4PM first pitch due to a graduation event Wednesday night for his school. Tune in to KDHL and Power 96 and we will let you know for sure.

Bethlehem Academy Seniors Shelby Meyer-L and Breanna Degrood- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Bethlehem Academy Seniors Shelby Meyer-L and Breanna Degrood- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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