BHS softball: Weimann paces Bemidji victory over Eveleth-Gilbert
The Bemidji High softball team played hot on a cold day Thursday, rolling past outmatched Eveleth-Gilbert's Golden Bears 15-1 in a five inning game.
An overcast day with a strong north wind made playing conditions somewhat less than enjoyable.
But the home team was hot from the start, banging out 14 hits in its four turns at bat and wrapping up the contest with an eight-run second.
Erika Weimann coasted behind the big barrage, spacing five singles while fanning three and walking none.
It was her second win in as many decisions.
Megan Preiner pitched the distance for the Bears, allowing 14 hits, two for extra bases, while fanning one and walking five.
Bemidji found her offerings to their liking from the start.
Two walks opened the first inning. After a force out, a wild pitch advanced both runners and Paige Jensen cashed them both with single to left.
She took second on the throw and scored when Weimann's pop up fell behind first base untouched.
Weimann worked around two singles in the second and was given eight more runs to work with in Bemidji's turn at bat.
An error opened the gates and Kaia Sele followed with a home run over the left center field fence.
Hits by Meg Claypool and Jensen were each followed by walks and hits by Weimann and Chelsea Johnson followed .Another walk and Amber Teal's one bagger completed the carnage
The Bears scored in the third on two hits and a ground out but had only one more base runner the final two frames.
Bemidji added three in the third starting with back to back doubles by Chelsea Yost and Megan Gullickson with an error and hits by Chelsea Johnson and Tara Ripplinger following.
Singles by Gilbertson and Brittany Thompson completed the damage in the fourth.
All 12 players saw at least two innings of play. Ten of the 12 had base hits.
Jensen, Gullickson, Weimann and Chelsea Johnson all had two. Eight players drove home runs led by Sele's three.Bemidji will open the Cloquet tournament facing Pine City. Yost and Jensen will handle the mound duties.
The win raised Bemidji's record to 13-1. Eveleth remained winless in 11 games.
The B Team had an even easier time, closing out the Bears 32-1 in three innings.
Bemidji scored nine in the first, 10 in the second and 13 in the third before the game was mercifully ended.
The winners had only 13 hits but profited from a barrage of walks.
Janie Johnson had four hits with a home run and triple.
Summer Monsrud had three with a home run. Mikayla Dahlin had a triple and double and Jamie Balmer homered.
Eveleth-Gilbert 001-00--- 1--5-- 3
Bemidji 383-1x---15--14--0
Preiner and Lind
Weimann (2-0) and Claypool, Jensen (2), Sele (3)
- - - - -
Eveleth-Gilbert B 000--- 0-- 2--5
Bemidji B 9(10)(13)---32--13--2
Braslugli and Benda
McLean (4-1) and Clark