MEET ME IN MONTANA: Norse Win Sub-Regional
Click the AUDIO buttons to hear comments from Ellie Miller, Rachael Winkel, and Norse manager Ross Rahoi.
ESCANABA---The Bay College Norse softball team won the NJCAA Sub-Regional championship on Wednesday, beating the Dakota County Technical College Blue Knights, 9-1.
It was much less dramatic than the ten inning nailbiter on Tuesday, which the Norse pulled out of the fire after trailing all day long. On Wednesday, the Norse scored four runs in the first inning and were never headed, and will be the top East seed in the regional bracket on Sunday.
"To get four runs in the first inning did some big things for our monentum, our confidence, and our mindset," Norse Managr Ross Rahoi said. "They have a great team over there. Any time you can jump out on them, it's helpful."
DCTC actually had the first scoring chance when Julia Offerdahl and Olivia Weinberg got back-to-back singles and Spencer Mohr was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Norse pitcher Rachael Winkel battled back, striking out Kaitlyn Perry and Molly Erickson (both swinging) to strand the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the inning, Sarah Wynn singled and Avery Sorochan was safe on an error. They both sprinted home on a line drive double by Westwood High School graduate Ellie Miller, making it 2-0. Miller would end up with three hits and four RBI in the game.
"I've been trying to line the ball more," Miller said. "Usually, I hit it off the end of my bat, or inside of my bat lately. I was just happy to finally line the ball today. I saw her (pitcher Jada Schultz) very well today. I think a lot of us did."
The Norse added to the lead on an RBI single by Karlie Patron and a run-scoring double by catcher Ally Podhaniuk. That gave Winkel the cushion she needed in the circle, and she scattered six hits over her four innings of work, allowing only one unearned run.
"It was nice to be outside and not have it snow, or a freezing wind," Winkel smiled. "It was great to start, just great to be on the field. Karlie is a great opener. So, yeah, I thought I'd get out there and do my job. Our defense was great today. It's so good to have that, especially coming back fresh from yesterday, with some innings not so good."
The Norse defense turned four double plays in the six inning game.
Winkel helped her own cause with a solo home run, the only home run for Bay in the subregional tournament.
"My first at-bat obviously wasn't so hot (strikeout)," Winkel said. "By my third one, she was hitting the zone more, so as soon as I hit it, it felt good to hit one."
Patron, who normally starts, did the relief pitching role in this one and threw the final two innings. The Norse ended the game on the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Weinberg led DCTC (15-13) with three hits in three at-bats. The Blue Knights also advanced to the region tournament by eliminaing Gogebic Community College. But DCTC will have to go up against top overall tournament seed, host Dawson (Mont,) Community College, in Sunday's regional opener. The Dawson Bucs are 29-8 this season.
For Bay, it will be a mtach-up with the Miles (Mont.) Community College Pioneers. The Pioneers are 22-14 on the season and will be the Number 2 West seed.
"We are able to go win that region," Rahoi said. "I like this group because of how gritty they are, and how much they love each other, love the game. Our pitching has been on all year. Our defense has been solid. So, hey, when we swing the bat, and we can put six, seven, eight runs up on the board, or even three or four, we're going to be OK."
The Norse will leave for M0ntana at 7:00 Friday morning for the 16-hour drive to the mountains of Glendive, where the Norse last played in 2019.
The Bay-Miles game is set for 10 a.m. Montana time on Sunday, which is noon Escanaba time. The second game of the double-elimination tournament is Dawson vs DCTC at noon MT.
That tournament runs through Monday, and if the Norse could win the championship, they would host the North Plains District series the following week in Escanaba.
"I fully expect to have a fun ride home Monday to Tuesday," Rahoi added.
