Prep softball: Grand slam lifts Lady Horsemen over Lady Dons

The New Mexican |

5/7/2008 - 5/8/08

The softball field at West Las Vegas High School is big enough to hold any ball in the field of play.

That played into Emily Schutz's hands on Wednesday afternoon.

The St. Michael's starting pitcher lined an inside-the-park grand slam that broke a 3-all tie and led to a 10-6 win over the Lady Dons in a District 2AAA game. The win kept hopes of a district title alive for St. Michael's.

The Lady Horsemen (16-8 overall, 9-4 2AAA) need to sweep a doubleheader with Pojoaque and need Santa Fe Indian School (16-5, 10-3) to split with Raton on Saturday for it to happen.

St. Michael's owns the tiebreaker by taking two of three games over the Lady Braves.

St. Michael's co-head coach Ron Noedel said the play was what his team needed for a spark.

"It was the key play," Noedel said. "That ball just rolled forever. It almost ended up in the river back there (beyond the fence)."

The Lady Horsemen defense offered little help for Schutz, committing six errors.

The Lady Dons scored two runs in the first and one in the third because of them.

Otherwise, Schutz (10-6) gave up only five hits while striking out six.