Grand Island Senior High's softball team is now just one win away from the school's second straight appearance in the state tournament.
The Islanders won twice Thursday in the Class A, District 7 tournament at the Fonner Park Softball Complex. They will play Columbus (11-19) at 2 p.m. today. A win sends them into next week's state tournament at Hastings. A loss and the two teams would play again at 4:30 p.m. with a state bid on the line.
Grand Island (16-18) opened tournament play with an 8-5 victory over North Platte. The Islanders then downed Columbus 9-2 with sophomore Taryn Trosper going the distance to win both games.
"This is exactly where we have to be," Grand Island coach K.C. Hehnke said. "The best thing is we came out and played extremely well today. Like we said, you have to make the routine plays and pitch and we did both today.
"We got timely hitting in the first game. The second game we came out here and manhandled them."
A five-run sixth inning was key for the Islanders against North Platte. The Bulldogs (9-19) tied the game at 3 with two runs in the top of the sixth inning.
But the Islanders got things going in the bottom of the inning. Rachel Weakland led off with a single and Makayla Walsh followed with a walk. Sydney Trosper reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with one out.
Sydney Trosper took second on a steal and courtesy runner Shae Switzer scored what proved to be the winning run on the play.
"When we can put pressure on defenses, that's a big advantage to us," Hehnke said.
It also might make opponents nervous to see Mackenzie Tomlin and Sarah Petska coming up to the plate. Tomlin doubled to drive in two runs and Petska followed with a double of her own to give Grand Island an 8-3 lead over the Bulldogs.
North Platte added two runs in the top of the seventh, but it wasn't enough.
Petska was 3-for4 against the Bulldogs with two doubles while Tomlin was 2-for-4.
"We knew Tomlin and Petska would hit well," Hehnke said. "When we were out here in pregame, they were just creaming the ball. There were a couple other girls who have been working through a few things the last couple of weeks. They're a little bit tired. I think we'll come back and hit well again tomorrow."
Tomlin and Petska continued their hot hitting against Columbus. Tomlin had three hits, including a grand slam in the fourth inning that gave the Islanders a 7-1 lead.
The Islanders had loaded the bases on back-to-back infield hits by Steph Schwieger and Emily Mierau and a walk to Alissa Christensen.
With a strong wind behind her, Tomlin got a ball up into the breeze and it carried well over the fence in left field.
"Mackenzie Tomlin has hit the ball so hard all year," Hehnke said. "Even in practice she hits balls out the days we don't put the fence up. Today was a great day for Mackenzie. She probably hit that ball 30 or 40 feet over the fence.
"There was a little bit of breeze, but you know what? I'm not so sure the breeze even mattered on that ball."
Hehnke said he wasn't sure yet about his pitching plans for Friday. He said Trosper has thrown extremely well against the Discoverers this season, giving up just one earned run in 21 innings, so he might go with her.
But whoever pitches, Hehnke said the Islanders have to do the same things they did on Thursday.
"We have to play very, very well again," Hehnke said. "We have to throw and make the routine plays."
North Platte 000 012 2 -- 5 8 3
Grand Island 002 015 x -- 8 9 2
WP -- T. Trosper. LP -- Schwartz. 2B -- N: Coffman. GI: Petska 2, Tomlin.
Columbus 001 010 0 -- 2 9 5
Grand Island (16-18) 201 411 x -- 9 10 3
WP -- T. Trosper. LP -- Ritzdorf. 2B -- C: Ritzdorf 2. GI: Richardson, Tomlin, Petska. HR -- GI: Tomlin.
Class A, District 7
At Fonner Park
Thursday, Oct. 9
Game 1--Columbus 11, Kearney 10
Game 2--Grand Island 8, North Platte 5
Game 3--Kearney 3, North Platte 2, North Platte eliminated
Game 4--Grand Island 9, Columbus 2
Game 5--Columbus 7, Kearney 3, Kearney eliminated
Friday, Oct. 10
Game 6--Grand Island (16-18) vs. Columbus (11-19), 2 p.m.
Game 7--If necessary, 4:30 p.m.
