Published: May 07, 2008 03:45 am         

Blue Devils win VVC title

BISMARCK — In a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate, the Bismarck-Henning Blue Devils clinched the Vermilion Valley Conference softball championship Tuesday with a 5-0 victory over the Salt Fork Storm.

It was a battle on the mound between a pair of 14-game winning seniors with the Blue Devils’ Brittney Ault squaring off with the Storm’s Mackenzie Stutsman. Both pitchers went the distance but Ault carried the day striking out nine, walking four and giving up three hits.

“I was very happy with my performance,” Ault said. “We played really well today and we all stepped up when we needed to.”

Ault had some time off before today’s start which stood out as a key to the game to Blue Devils coach Mike Stephens.

“I think the rest helped as Brittney got stronger as the game went along,” he said. “She is all about trying to win. She is one of the best competitors I’ve ever coached and she will be continuing her career at the college level.”

It was the second straight loss for the Storm who lost to Oakwood on Monday.

Stutsman threw five scoreless innings before surrendering all five Blue Devil runs in the top of the sixth. She struck out two and allowed seven hits, with five of the seven hits coming in the sixth.

“Kenzie pitched a great game but we just didn’t give her any support,” said Storm coach Annie Craig. “The girls have had a great season and we wanted this win today but we came up a little short. That’s just part of the game.”

Megan McCord was two for three and on base three times to lead the way offensively. Hannah Darr had the other Storm hit.

“Megan McCord has a great attitude and works hard,” Craig said. “She is only a freshman and we are looking for great things from her in the future.”

It looked like the Storm had gotten out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. With two outs and the bases loaded, Sara Rife hit a hard ground ball to short stop that resulted in a miss played attempted force out at second base. Two runs scored but were quickly taken off the board when the runner at second was called out due to interference.

“No excuses but its hard when you think you’ve scored against a team as tough as Bismarck to only find out you haven’t,’ Craig said. “We rallied back after that and played a good game, but it took a lot out of us emotionally.” The Storm would leave the bases loaded in the fourth but were unable to threaten Ault the rest of the game.”

Stutsman closed down the Blue Devils until the pivotal sixth inning rally. Hannah Ohl scored on a hit by Hannah Hoover to put the Blue Devils on the board. Kristen Tuggle beat out a bunt which scored Elyse Lippert to make the score 2-0. Randi Hawkins drove a single up the middle, scoring Hoover to make it 3-0.

The Blue Devils would tack on two insurance runs on a fielders choice and wild pitch to account for the final score.

“I felt going into the inning that the way Brittney was pitching if we could get at least 1 run, we would be OK,” Stephens said. “Ohl and Lippert had hit the ball solid earlier in the game which caused some adjustments in their outfield positioning which helped in the inning, but the key was Tuggle’s bunt putting us up 2-0. It kept things going and took some pressure off Brittney in the seventh. It was a really well played inning all around for us.”

“It was just a really good offensive inning for them,” Craig said. “I don’t think fatigue or anything else factored in for us in the field or for Mackenzie on the mound. They just had a really good inning.”

Hawkins led the way at the plate going 2 for 3 with and RBI. It was also a good day for the Blue Devils in the field led by Lippert.

“She has been the key to our defense all year and was again today,” Stephens said. “She had a big game today behind the plate and threw out a runner trying to steal. The defense did a nice job overall in support of Britney.”

Both teams return to action today. The Blue Devils (22-9 and 13-2 in VVC play) have a make up home game against Hoopeston Area while the Storm (18-9 and 11-4) go on the road to take on Milford.