Softball girls win amidst thunder and lightning

By Tom Obert
Cub Reporter
With thunder and lightning crashing all around us, the Alex girls softball team won the first game of a best of three championship in section 8AAA, beating Willmar 4 - 1. Before a standing room only crowd (we got box seats through Ticketmaster) at Lincoln South field, the game began on a beautiful June evening (in fact, the cub reporters had planned an evening lake cruise after the game) - sunshine and actually a bit on the too hot side.
Due to the importance of the game, all the parents we had seen all through the hockey season were there - as well as the hockey players who aren't on the softball team.
Shortly after the game began, dark clouds began forming in the West and late arrivers said radar reports indicated a storm was imminent. But the game continued apace as Tiffany Zacher, the Card hurler, and the Willmar pitcher threw goose eggs for the first 4 innings. The Cards broke through for a 1 - 0 lead in the fifth on a 2-out single - but it appeared that the game could be called at any minute as it was obviously raining just to the west with occasional lightning.

In the bottom of the 6th, Brittney Bruzek led off with a single - clean-up hitter Sam Dale then laid down a perfect bunt that turned into about a three-foot "home run."
The pitcher fielded the bunt but threw the ball into right field - as Brittney and Sam raced around the bases, the right fielder threw the ball into the Alex dugout so both runners scored.

The Cards scored one more run in that inning to take a 4 - 0 into the top of the 7th. Then the rain began, and the cub reporter-in-training, wimp that he is, took a powder. The rest of us hung there as the Cards, obviously excited at the prospect of of big win and rushing to get it over before a rain postponement, suddenly discovered that Willmar had bases loaded with nobody out.
Miss Zacher settled down and got the next three batters for the big win. As the Cards rushed into left field for the after game celebration (attached photo) and fans began heading for their cars, the skies opened and we soon found ourselves in a mad dash for cover - the game could not have lasted one more batter!
The Cards travel to Willmar tomorrow - if Willmar wins the first game, there will be a deciding game played immediately thereafter. If the Cards win one more game, they will be in the state tournament.