Bonnell lifts Twin Lakes past Harrison

BY JEFF WASHBURN • JWASHBURN@JCONLINE.COM • MAY 21, 2009


Considering Twin Lakes junior pitcher Tabby Bonnell's state of mind during the 25-minute bus ride from Monticello to Harrison on Wednesday, it's amazing she got through the first inning.

"They are really good," Bonnell said of the Class 4A Raiders. "I'm not new at pitching, but I have butterflies every time out.

"Facing a high quality team like Harrison, the butterflies flap a lot harder, especially on the bus on the way here. I was thinking, 'Oh, no, what can go wrong?' "

Not only did the nervous Bonnell finish the first inning, the right-hander pitched a complete-game seven-hitter in Twin Lakes' 1-0 victory.

Bonnell provided the game's only run, lining an 0-2 pitch for an RBI single with two outs in the top of the fifth, driving home catcher Sarah McIlrath, who opened the inning with a single.

"It was a protective swing," Bonnell said. "The pitch was outside, and I just carried it where it was suppose to go. It dropped in. It felt good right off the bat.

"This is great, because this is the game we have been looking forward to. We know going into the sectional that there are going to be quality teams like this every single day."

Harrison (19-7), which has lost consecutive games to Carmel, Noblesville and Twin Lakes, threatened to win it in the bottom of the sixth.

With runners at second and third with two outs, losing pitcher Morgan Stephens (10-4) lined a shot that Bonnell reached down and fielded, throwing Stephens out at first.

"All of them when you field them on the pitcher's mound are tough," Bonnell said. "You put your glove down there, and whoa, there it is.

"You have to calm yourself and make a good throw to first. Had that ball gotten by me, it would have been awful. I looked down, and I felt it hit. I was like, 'Is this real?' "

Twin Lakes coach Desiree Swaim was well aware Bonnell was nervous in anticipation of facing the Hoosier Crossroads Conference opponent.

"(Bonnell) helped herself with her offense as well as with her pitching," Swaim said. "That was awesome. She did an absolutely outstanding job. She was a little nervous coming in. We were like, 'Why?' She did the job."

win Lakes' defense, led by shortstop Katie Reiff, second baseman Hillary Banks and right fielder Presley Estes, was excellent, turning a pair of double plays.

"Absolutely, we made the plays in the field," Swaim said. "Everybody played well. We were struggling at the bat at the beginning and made adjustments.

"It absolutely is a good game for us going into the sectional. This last week, we've seen slower pitchers. This week, we were eager to play Harrison."

For Harrison coach Abby Willis, it was a matter of situational hitting. During the consecutive losses to Carmel, Noblesville and Twin Lakes, the Raiders have 12 total hits and three runs.

"We had a lot of hits, just not the timely one," Willis said. "At this point, we have played a lot of good softball. We are not happy with losses, but we've practiced only three times this entire month because of makeup games and rain.

"So, we're using our games as practice. We're really trying to prepare for the sectional. We're trying to execute plays, bunting and slaps ... all of the finesse things. I was happy with what they did at the plate. (Twin Lakes) made some phenomenal defensive plays. They are a good glove team."

(All photos are the property of the Brent Drinkut and the Lafayette Journal & Courier -- please do not copy without permission)

By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison's Jordyn Garrett hits a ball against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Twin Lakes third baseman Chelsea Hicks tags out Harrison base runner Michelle Henrich during a game on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Twin Lakes second baseman Sarah McIlrath attempts to tag Harrison's Abbey Scowden on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison center fielder Haley Baker catches a pop fly against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison catcher Ashley Courtney throws the ball back to the pitcher against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison's Jaden Spitznagle bats against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison center fielder Haley Baker scoops up a ball against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison third baseman Megan Huston throws to first for a force out against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison shortstop Megan Mitchell looks back towards the dugout against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.


By Brent Drinkut/Journal & Courier -- Harrison pitcher Morgan Stephens winds up against Twin Lakes on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

Bonded Knights Subdue Raiders

An article from the Lafayette Journal & Courier by Nathan Baird

"Many Central Catholic students jetted off to Florida last week to enjoy a leisurely spring break on sunny beaches.

Not the Knights baseball team, which spent four days busing around southern Indiana. While classmates were building sand castles in Fort Myers or West Palm Beach, the Knights visited Mt. Vernon and Huntingburg.

"With those two games, we got everything behind us," senior catcher Tyler Child said. "We got our nerves out of the way, and tonight we went out there and got at it."

Sparked by Child's three-run home run in the third inning, Class A No. 4 Central Catholic defeated Harrison 8-3 on Tuesday at Leming Field. Scott Windler also homered for CC (1-1), and Taylor Glaze (1-0) earned the victory by combining with Brett Haan on a two-hitter.

Harrison, playing without three injured starters, lost its season opener.

"One of our strengths this year is our team chemistry and unity," CC coach Tim Bordenet said. "Getting away and staying together for basically the whole week I think really helped. We have a good mix of older guys and younger guys, and there aren't any egos."

In the past, Central Catholic's baseball players were free to take a more conventional spring break. Players on vacation tried to meet up in small groups for informal practices.

The Knights lost to Mt. Vernon and had a potential victory against Southridge suspended by weather.

"The last few years we've gone down to Florida and had to split up a little bit, so we haven't gotten the work in," said CC senior Matt Combs, who walked three times and had an RBI single. "Taking the loss of not going down to the nice weather helped us out as a team. The live at-bats were a great thing for us."

Taking note of the strong wind blowing out to right field, Child drove a 3-1 offering from Raiders starter Nate Harrison over the wall in right-center. The three-run blast put CC up 6-1.

Harrison's Josh Burkhalter reached on an infield single in the top of third. He stole second and third, then stole home on the front end of a double steal.

Rennie Troggio doubled and scored leading off the Raiders' fourth. That was the last hit for Harrison, which played without injured juniors Ryan Black (concussion) and Patrick Alkire (back) and senior Shane Sullivan (hand).

"Even if we played perfect tonight, we can't compete unless we get better at the plate," Harrison coach Brent Harmon said. "We hit .080 tonight. That's not going to win very many baseball games." "