By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs rallied from a pair of two-run deficits and held off Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs in the first round of the Sylvan 2-1A Regional 7-6 Monday in Hays to advance to the regional semifinals.
The Mustangs took an early lead, scoring two runs on an error in the top of the first inning, but TMP answered right back, scoring three runs on four errors by Sylvan-Lucas in the bottom of the inning. TMP’s Brooke Koenigsman drove in a run in the inning as the Monarchs took a 3-2 lead.
Sylvan-Lucas added a run in the second and two more in the third to build a 5-3 lead through two and a half innings.
In the bottom of the third inning TMP got a run back on a Bria Windholz single that scored Halle Dreiling who led off the inning with a double, making it 5-4 Mustangs.
But Sylvan-Lucas got that run back in the top of the fourth for a 6-4 lead.
Trailing by two runs, TMP loaded the bases with one out, to open the bottom of the fourth inning and Dreiling connected on her second double of the game scoring two runs and tying the game at six.
Brooke Koenigsman followed with a sacrifice fly putting TMP up 7-6 and they held on down the stretch for the victory.
Brynn Rebel earned the win for TMP. She allowed just one run, on four hits, with five strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of relief.
Dreiling finished three-for-four with two doubles and her and Rose scored twice.
Koenigsman, Windholz and Dreiling all drove in two runs for TMP who improves to 19-8 with the win.
They will face Ellis in the 2-1A Sylvan Grove Regional semifinals.
The other two quarterfinal games scheduled for Monday were postponed until Tuesday.
Top-seed Ell-Saline will host eight-seed Sacred Heart and Little River will host Bennington in the four versus five matchup.
The semifinals and finals will be played Thursday in Sylvan Grove.