Outlaws lose in softball quarterfinals

Banks High School hit the long ball and took advantage of five Sisters High School errors to eliminate the Outlaws, 10-4, during state 4A quarterfinal softball action played at SHS on May 28.

The loss ended the Outlaws' best season in school history at 22-6. Banks advances to the semifinals and will play Henley June 1. The Braves defeated the Hornets earlier in the season, 7-1.

"Not the way we wanted it to end, but five errors created a lot of issues that are hard to overcome," said Coach Tom Mauldin. He noted that pitcher Dara Kosanke needed 35 pitches to get through the fifth inning when the Braves scored six unearned runs.

"That's a lot to ask of any pitcher," said the coach. "We've put others in that situation this year. That said, Banks is a good team and they have three players who hit the ball hard."

Banks scored first, with the second batter homering. The Outlaws took a 2-1 lead in the third when Harley Rowe, Kosanke, and Taylor Walker all doubled.

Banks tied it in the fourth with another solo home run. But the Outlaws regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when Brooklyn Walker singled, moved to second on a McKenzie Cooper sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a Carly Kreminski fly out to right.

Then came the ill-fated fifth, when the trio of errors were followed by a three-run homer.

The Outlaws scored their fourth run in the bottom of the fifth on singles by Kosanke and Marisa Calavan.

Banks added two more in the sixth to account for the final.

The Outlaws played without All-League first baseman Amber Milliman, who was out with a ruptured ear drum. Milliman led the Outlaws in runs driven in with 39.

"Needless to say, we needed to play cleaner defense to win this game. They had four earned runs, we had three," said Mauldin. "It wasn't the pitcher's duel everyone was expecting, that's for sure."

The loss ended Kosanke's season at 20-6, while the Braves' Melissa Masters improved to 14-0. The four runs were the most scored against Masters this season.

"The loss still stings a bit, but in a few days the accomplishments of this team will be a lot for everyone to be proud of," said Mauldin.

The Outlaws got to the playoffs by earning a share of the Sky-Em League title with Marist as both teams finished 11-1. And they advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-3 win at Baker on May 25.

In that victory, Kosanke scattered nine hits and struck out six. She also had three base hits and scored twice.

Big-hitter-of-the-day honors went to Milliman, who doubled twice and singled once to drive in three runs. The junior finished with a school record 15 doubles and 39 RBI.

Milliman had staked the Outlaws to three early runs with a ground out in the first and a two-run double in the third. Taylor Walker doubled in two in the sixth and Hernandenz finalized the scoring with her two-run single in the seventh. All totaled, the Outlaws collected 11 hits. Rowe had two hits.

"Like in many of our games this season, a lot of people contributed. What often goes unmentioned, but always noticed by head coaches, are sacrifice bunts. A real key to success," said Mauldin. "With the score 3-3, we didn't bat an eye ... we just came out, pounded the ball and sprinted around the bases."

Speaking of success, the Lady Outlaws have a lot for which to be proud. As Kosanke often says, "It's a good day to be an Outlaw."