Kersey – It is never too late to set new goals.
Erie pitcher Holly Jordan didn’t intend to shut out the Tigers’ entire Class 3A Patriot League schedule.
But with eight scoreless outings down and three left to go, well, why not?
Jordan pitched a three-hit shutout for a 10-0 league victory over host Platte Valley on Thursday at Hoshiko Field.
“It wasn’t my goal at the beginning of the season,” said Jordan, who had 14 strikeouts in the game. “But as the season progresses and we still haven’t given up a run (against league opponents), I think it is a good goal to not let a team score on us.”
Erie (12-4, 8-0 league), No. 1 in the 3A Denver Post/9News poll and the five-time defending 3A state champion, has three games left, including two pivotal contests against Roosevelt and Burlington, each with one league loss.
No. 5 Platte Valley (11-5, 6-2) suffered through a couple of big-money innings by the Tigers’ batters and then could not find a way to solve Jordan.
“This one didn’t quite fly the way we wanted it to,” Broncos coach Rick Dumler said. “I think it was a little bit of the fear factor thing for us. Everybody wants to beat Erie. You just have to figure out the time and place to do it.”
Up 1-0, Erie filled the bases with none out in the top of the third inning and started bringing in runs.
Freshman Ashlie Ortega crushed a two-RBI double to right field, scoring Samantha Welch and Peggy Nichols. Jordan then helped her own cause with an infield RBI single that scored Christina Balderama, and eventually scored the inning’s fourth run.
“Once one person starts hitting, everyone starts getting on,” said Janay Rahrich, a sophomore who went 2-for-4 with a double.
Tyne Willert went 3-for-4 with a triple for the Tigers, and Ortega finished 1-for-2 from the plate with a double and two RBIs and two runs scored.
Platte Valley senior catcher Jennifer Taylor went 2-for-3.
“We really hit the ball well,” Erie coach Bob Bledsoe said. “Our top priority is league, and this win puts us in a good spot.”
Erie, owner of six softball titles, is tied with Arvada West for the most championships in state history at any level.
Erie 014 030 2 – 10 12 1
Platte Valley 000 000 0 – 0 3 5
Erie – Balderama ss 4-1-2-0, Ortega cf 2-2-1-2, Jordan p 4-0-2-1, Rahrich 1b 4-2-2-1, Willert 3b 4-2-3-1, Estrada c 4-0-1-2, Parker dh 3-0-0-0, Welch rf 4-1-1-0, Nichols lf 4-1-0-0, Rieder dh 1-0-0-0, Baker cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 34-10-12-7.
Platte Valley – Smith 3b 3-0-0-0, Cross ss 3-0-0-0, Naibauer dh 3-0-1-0, Pfleiderer p 2-0-0-0, Erbes 1b 2-0-0-0, Anderson 2b 3-0-0-0, Taylor c 3-0-2-0, Olearnick cf 3-0-0-0, Nuse rf 2-0-0-0, Sponaugle dh 1-0-0-0. Totals 25-0-3-0.
Batteries – Jordan and Estrada; Pfleiderer and Taylor. W – Jordan (11-4). L – Pfleiderer (10-4).
E – Willert; Anderson, Rodriguez, Konkel, Smith, Erbes. LOB – Erie 5; Platte Valley 7. 2B – Rahrich, Ortega. 3B – Willert. SB – Konkel, Naibauer; Willert 2, Welch, Rieder. WP – Jordan. HBP – Nuse by Jordan; Smith by Jordan. Time – 1:46.
