Benton claims Wamac softball showdown at Solon, 4-0

SOLON — Three hundred twenty days, the Benton Bobcats had waited.

'We'd wanted to play them since last year,' Coach Eric Stenberg said. 'We wanted to see where we stood.'

Quite well, right now.

Amber Fiser pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 14, and Anna Stenberg added a late home run as Class 3A top-ranked Benton Community toppled No. 3 Solon, 4-0, in a Wamac Conference non-divisional softball showdown Wednesday night at the Solon High School athletic complex.

'We've been looking forward to it,' said Fiser, a University of Minnesota signee. 'We wanted to beat them after last year.'

Solon took two of three from the Bobcats last year, including a 3-1 verdict in the 3A state final.

Wednesday night was the Bobcats' night.

Fiser put Benton (15-1) in front with a two-run single in the top of the first inning, then did quality work in the circle.

The pitch of her night was a riseball that struck out Jess Heick in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and the Bobcats' lead a tenuous 2-0.

Then, Anna Stenberg struck with two outs in the top of the seventh to break it open. After Jaicee Lyons laced a single, Stenberg roped a 1-2 pitch over the center-field fence for her first homer of the season.

'It was a fastball that hung there and stayed up a little,' Stenberg said. 'I knew it was a base hit, but I didn't know it was going to go over the fence.'

Benton jumped in front immediately. Alyssa Wiebel singled, Shelby Hulsebus reached on an error and Angie Gorkow singled to load the bases for Fiser, whose single drove in two.

A bizarre double play on Jaicee Lyons' grounder kept the Bobcats from breaking it open — until Anna Stenberg's late blast.

'It was pretty special,' said her father, her coach. 'Her grandfather passed away Monday, and for her to come up big, that means a lot.'

Solon (8-3) didn't have a runner advance past first base until the fifth inning.

'(Fiser) is just that good,' Solon Coach Jim White said. 'But I'm disappointed we didn't execute the game plan better. I'm kind of glad they got those last two runs; it shows how far we have to go.'

BENTON COMMUNITY 4, SOLON 0

At Solon

Benton Community 200 000 2 — 4 9 0

Solon 000 000 0 — 0 3 4

Amber Fiser and Jaicee Lyons. McKenna Miller and Monika Bevans. W — Fiser (8-1). L — Miller (6-2). HR — BC: Anna Stenberg (1).

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com