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Craig softball team wins 1-0 thriller

MADISON — Janesville Craig High School softball team won one for the ages Tuesday.

Mandy Smith pitched a complete game, and the visiting Cougars squeezed home a run in the top of the ninth inning to outlast Madison La Follette, 1-0, in a Big Eight thriller.

“In my 18 years of coaching, I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a 1-0 seven-inning game, much less nine innings,’’ Craig’s Dan Bayreuther said.

Smith pitched a four-hitter that included 10 strikeouts, and La Follette’s Michelle Jones matched her with an eight-hitter that had the Cougars striking out 12 times.

Kelly Lyke finally broke the scoreless tie after starting the ninth inning with a triple. She scored on Brianne Gohlke’s squeeze bunt as the Cougars (11-9) completed their Big Eight season with an 8-8 conference record.

Craig had the same situation after Gabriellle Cassady led off the eighth inning with a triple, but they couldn’t push home a run. After a squeeze play resulted in a strikeout, Abby Geiger bunted for a single back to the pitcher that left Cassady on the third base. Anna Fagerli’s line drive was then stabbed by the third baseman, who doubled up Cassady to end the inning.

“It was unbelievable,’’ Bayreuther said Craig’s ill-fated eighth inning, which was all but forgotten after the Cougars’ thrilling ninth.

CRAIG 1, LA FOLLETTE 0

Janesville Craig 000 000 001—1 8 1

Madison La Follette 000 000 000—0 4 1

Smith and Cassady; Jones and Brockman.

Leading hitters—Geirger (JC) 2x4, Freeman (JC) 2x4, Thom (ML) 2x4. 3B—Cassady (JC), Lyke (JC).

SO—Smith 10, Jones 12. BB—Smith 1, Jones 1.