By Mike Drooger –

There are three main components to the game of softball—pitching, hitting, and defense. Very successful teams do well in all three. Another important aspect of softball is base running. Smart base runners and the fleet-of-foot can be very important.

On Tuesday, May 24, at Edgerton in the Section 3 playoffs, the Edgerton/SW MN Christian Flying Dutchmen took on the Panthers of Tracy-Milroy-Bal-aton in round two after T-M-B had defeated Murray County Central 4-1 in the opener.

E/SW Coach Andrew Fleisch-man was very animated and vocal in his third-base coaching box throughout the game imploring his girls to take the extra base(s) whenever possible. It began with Ana Veldkamp and ended with Makenna Moss in a four-inning 17-2 win. “We definitely ran them (TMB) into some mistakes,” Fleischman said after the game. 

Veldkamp, who is blessed with a lot of athletic tools including speed, laid down a bunt in E/SW’s first at-bat after the Panthers had scored a run in the first inning. Just a little bobble of the ball at third base was all Veldkamp needed to gain first base. When the throw from the Panthers’ third basegal was off the mark to first, and the ball headed down the first base fence, Fleischman instructed Veldkamp to head to third. Once at third, Veldkamp was told to go home by her coach after the ball had been misplayed at third. Just like that, the Dutchmen had tied it at 1-1.

The Panthers added another run on a single and subsequent suicide squeeze, but E/SW sent 10 batters to the plate in their half of the second inning. It began with a sharp single by Kathryn Prins. Maddie Feikema then lashed a solid single for runners at first and second. After a fly ball out to left, Kinsie Nelson had a very important at-bat. The first two pitches to E/SW’s right fielder were strikes. After taking a few pitches and fouling some off, Nelson worked out a walk to load the bases. Fleischman sent Prins home on a fielder’s choice from Veldkamp. Feikema scored on a wild pitch. Nelson scored on an error by the Panthers. Alyda Vande Griend reached on an error and stole second base. Paris Van Dyke sent Vande Griend home with a single. Pinch-runner Avery Fey scurried home after Moss got a hit, and it was 6-2.