MANKATO — Mankato West senior right-hander Brooklyn Geerdes’ steady development continued Monday afternoon as the Scarlets scored two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to down Mankato East 4-1 in a nonconference clash at Scarlet Field.
Geerdes, who was in the circle last season when the Cougars notched a pair of Section 2AAA victories on their way to a Class AAA state title, scattered five hits while striking out five and walking three in helping the Scarlets avenge a 5-2 rain-shortened loss to East earlier this year.
“I think seeing their tendencies last year helped us learn a little bit about them,” Geerdes said. “I lifted a lot in the offseason to get stronger and using my legs more is really helping pull everything together. We’re really playing well together and are putting together good at bats in crucial situations.
“We’ve been cleaning the defense up all season which has really helped coming down the stretch this year. I have a lot more confidence and I am taking just one thing at a time and not worrying about what’s ahead.”
East (12-5) and the Scarlets (13-4) were tied for sixth in the latest Coaches Association Poll. West holds a one game lead over both Winona and East for the Big Nine Conference lead and is headed to Winona Tuesday with a chance to clinch the outright championship.
“We had great pitching from Brooklyn, good defense and timely hitting which is a formula that usually works,” West coach Don Krusemark said. “Brooklyn has worked hard at it and she’s gotten stronger. Her pitches have a carry on them and she’s become much better at hitting her spots. … Just being in command on the mound and having that winning factor is big for us.”
East scored its lone run in the top of the second when junior third baseman Jayda Swalve doubled to deep right field and scored on seventh-grade right fielder Kenley Staunton’s RBI single. However, Harper Stangl, who reached on an infield error, was thrown out at the plate by Scarlets’ senior center fielder Madelyn Bode to keep things a one-run game.
West tallied two runs in the fourth off junior right-hander Kylinn Stangl, who ended up allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven, walking two and hitting a batter. Sophomore catcher Lydia Banse and junior DH Bryn Hacker delivered RBI singles before Bode rocketed a two-run double to deep left-center field an inning later. Hacker doubled and singled for the winners.
“I think this was a huge confidence builder after not finishing that first one,” Bode said. “I think this will give us some momentum going into this week. Brooklyn has really become a big leader for us and is someone we can really trust on the mound. Our timely hits and solid defense is what got us to win this game. … Everyone in the order hit the ball for us.”
Geerdes, who walked Kylinn Stangl intentionally three times, set down the final seven hitters and didn’t give up a hit after senior catcher Destiny Reasner smacked a one-out double in the fourth inning.
“We looked tired today,” East coach Joe Madson said. “We played a lot of games last week and we just didn’t look like ourselves. They played well and hit the ball way harder than we did. Brooklyn threw well for them. She got ahead in the count and we just hit too many lazy fly balls. We needed to make them work a lot harder defensively. … We need to keep our head about us and go out and get the next one.”
East plays at Austin Tuesday.