Simley Softball Team Scores Four In the Seventh to Edge Henry Sibley

It's only three games into the softball season, but the Simley High School Spartans are already making it an exciting year.

In their last outing the Spartans lost a heartbreaker, falling to Richfield 6-5 after leading 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

On Monday afternoon the Spartans turned the tables, rallying to score four runs in the bottom of the seventh to top visiting Henry Sibley 10-9 in Classic Suburban Conference girls fastpitch softball. Batting eighth in the order, Simley ninth grader Maggie Kadrlik knocked in the game-winner: A one-out, hard-hit single to right.

“It showed us we can come back from anything,” said Kadrlik. “It feels really good.”

It was Simley’s first win of the season.

“We needed this kind of game,” said Simley pitcher Celina Nehmer. “We really stepped it up in the later innings. We never give up. We always push through.”

Nehmer and Sibley’s Stephanie Gilberg were both called for illegal pitches during Monday’s game, the first time for both pitchers this season.

Simley head coach Kelly Darrow said she was pleased with her team’s hitting and Nehmer’s ability to shake off some questionable calls.

“Our pitcher, she hasn’t been called on an illegal pitch all year long,” said Darrow. “She just really struggled. For her to persevere through that, I think was huge.”

Henry Sibley seemed in command of the game until the bottom of the seventh, leading 3-1 after one, 5-1 after two and 8-4 after four innings. But the Spartans kept within striking distance, and then put it all together in the seventh.

“It’s a great comeback win,” said Darrow. “We played all seven innings and that’s what we needed, especially after a tough loss to Richfield last week.”

It was a tough loss for the Warriors, who came so close to breaking into the win column for the first time this season.

“I give them credit,” Sibley head coach Phil Stohr said of the Spartans. “But we were talking and said nine might not be enough. I know with the pitching distance back this year the ball is getting put in play and you never know.”

Sibley led 9-5 heading into the final three outs. Simley scored one run, and then made it a game again when senior Ellie Ryan slammed a two-run double to cut Sibley’s lead to 9-8. Simley senior Brittney Willaert ripped a run-scoring triple to tie the game at 9-9, which set the stage for Kadrlik’s game winning hit.

It was a big evening for the Simley hitters, who tallied a total of 12 hits. Simley’s Adrianna Guevara went 2-for-3 with a RBI, Jordan Sheridan was 2-for-4 with a two-run double, Ryan was 2-4 with two RBI on a double, Kadrlik 2-for-4 with a RBI triple and Dillon was 2-for-3 with a RBI.

Sibley also had some clutch hitting.

“We really kind of broke the bats out tonight,” said Stohr. “I was really proud of our team, some clutch hits. We’ve got to tighten things up defensively and then we come back on Wednesday.”

Sibley senior Emily Usset was 3-for-3 with two RBI, Stephanie Gilberg was 2-for-4 with two RBI and junior Rachel Friberg was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Simley (1-2) is scheduled to play at 2010 state runner-up North St. Paul Wednesday in a game starting at 4:15 p.m.

“We have to play all seven innings against them and keep hitting the ball,” said Darrow.