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Central and the Holmen High School softball team were about as evenly-matched as possible in a Division 1 regional final May 22. Both teams managed seven hits and struck out just once on offense, while pitchers Kayla McCluskey and Kallie Mechling each allowed just one earned run. But two heads-up baserunning plays in the same at-bat in the eighth turned out to be the difference in a 5-4 Red Raiders win that ended Holmen's season at 11-6.

With the winning runs in scoring position with one out, Beth Servais hit a chopper toward the hole between short and third. Central coach Kevin Colburn implored Hannah Mickelson to break for the plate, with Holmen shortstop Lauren Schaller initally looking toward home, but then opting to try and cut down Servais at first.

But Schaller's throw to first got by Laura Krings. In the ensuing commotion, second baseman Marissa Fraser, backing up the play, hesitated slightly. Courtesy runner Hanah Stigen did exactly the opposite, never hesitating rounding third to score the winning run.

“I told (Mickelson) if the ball was hit to that side, not to go,” Colburn said. “Schaller has a great arm, but it was a high bounder.

“I think Schaller made the right play, because I don't think she would have had a shot to get her if she would have gone home. If they make the play on the second runner and get us out, that's the way it goes.”

After Holmen broke the game's second of three ties with a run in the top of the eighth, Central opened its half with solid singles to center from Mickelson and catcher Becky Robson. Both were sacrificed up a base by Anna Munson to set the stage for Servais.

Holmen scored its eighth-inning run on a Laura Krings walk and Mechling sacrifice, with pinch runner Taylor Sprain scoring when Talia Smith reached on an error. Allie Dienger and Anna Medinger followed with singles to load the bases, before Marissa Fraser popped out to first.

The Vikings also broke a 1-1 tie heading to the sixth with two runs, including a Krings RBI single between short and third. Schaller walked with one out and scored on a double error/Kayla Oliver sacrifice with out.

HHS broke a scoreless tie in the fourth without the benefit of a hit. Schaller walked, moved to third on a two-base sacrifice by Oliver and scored on a Hannah Galstad sacrifice fly. Holmen struggled with plate discipline the first time through the order against McCluskey, with seven of its first nine outs coming on pop ups.

“We work on trying to stay patient,” Vikings head coach Mark Wall said. “But we were a little impatient at the beginning of the game.”

Mechling took a complete-game loss. The Red Raiders also scored without the benefit of a hit in the fourth after Krings dropped a throw and two Medinger passed balls.

“Whenever you play a good team, you have to make every play,” Wall said. “You can't give teams extra at-bats and extra outs the farther you get in the playoffs.”

Colburn said, “We preach aggressiveness in the zone and not chasing. We didn't take a lot of strikes today, but we also made Mechling throw strikes.

“If you chase against Mechling, she'll continue to make you chase. She's great at hitting her spots.”

While Holmen finished well over .500 and second in the Mississippi Valley Conference, they missed a chance to win the league by losing last-week games to bottom-half teams Onalaska and Tomah. The Vikings also were 2-5 in their final seven games after a 9-1 mark through 10 games.

“Our season was a pleasant surprise,” Wall said. “We showed some drive and did some nice things.

“We're going to have a good group back and should be successful again next year. How far we go will be seen.”

HHS graduates just three seniors, Mechling, Galstad and Oliver. Among those who are eligible to return next year are center fielder Kylee Siolka, Fraser, Medinger, Schaller, Krings, Dienger, outfielders Liz Bennett and Kate Shefelbine, Sprain and Smith.

“Our seniors gave us what they had,” Wall said. “Hannah did well with the move to the infield, and Kayla was solid and consistent at the plate all year long.”

GAME BOX

HOLMEN (11-6)

Anna Medinger, c, 5-0-3-0; Marissa Fraser, 2b, 3-0-1-0; Lauren Schaller, ss, 1-3-0-0; Kayla Oliver, dh, 2-1-0-0; Liz Bennett, pr, 0-0-0-0; Kylee Siolka, cf, 0-0-0-0; Hannah Galstad, 3b, 3-0-0-1; Laura Krings, 1b, 3-0-1-1; Taylor Sprain, pr, 0-0-0-0; Kallie Mechling, p, 3-0-1-0; Kate Shefelbine, cr, 0-0-0-0; Talia Smith, rf, 4-0-0-0; Allie Dienger, lf, 4-0-1-0. Totals 28-4-7-2.

CENTRAL (16-6)

Kenisha McGuire, cf, 3-1-1-0; Ashley Wilhelm, 2b, 3-0-0-0; Hannah Mickelson, ss, 3-3-2-0; Becky Robson, c, 3-0-2-2; Hannah Stigen, cr, 0-1-0-0; Anna Munson, 1b, 3-0-1-1; Beth Servais, dh, 4-0-0-1; Kayla McCluskey, p, 0-0-0-0; Kaylene Juan, 3b, 3-0-0-0; Kayla Kramer, rf, 3-0-0-0; Rachel Albrecht, lf, 3-0-1-0; Megan Jirsa, pr, 0-0-0-0. Totals 28-5-7-4.

One out when winning run scored.

E: Krings, Wilhelm - 2, Robson, Kramer, Schaller - 2.

LOB: Holmen 10, Central 6.

HBP: McGuire by Mechling.

Pitchers

Holmen

Mechling, 7 1/3 ip, 7 h, 5 r, 1 er, 1 k, 1 bb

Central

McCluskey, 8 ip, 7 h, 4 r, 1 er, 1 k, 4 bb

WP; McCluskey

LP: Mechling