ERIE — Even from a distance the stern lecture Broomfield coach Paula Seifried gave her team on Saturday was crystal clear.
The Eagles had just lost their third straight game of the Erie Tournament of Champions, surrendering 12 runs in the bottom of the fifth to Mountain View in a 17-8 loss.
It was a tough pill to swallow after the Eagles’ season began with promise, going 4-0.
The Eagles had reached their crossroads very early in the season, and Seifried knows that there is plenty of time to right the ship.
“We are just not playing up to our potential right now and we are not being mentally tough,” she said. “That’s hard on us. We made a lot of mistakes and we have gotten through it.
“We are still a young team and we can’t forget that. But at the same time, they are a capable young team.”
The Eagles looked to be in control after a five-run top of the third inning had them up on the unbeaten Mountain Lions 8-4. Broomfield got RBI base hits from Megan Biesterfeld, Kenzie Jackson and Lindsey Malkin in the inning.
Sophomore pitcher Taylor Gilmore settled in and went to the fifth with an 8-5 lead before the Mountain View bats woke up again.
Gilmore hit the leadoff hitter in the inning, Jerhen Montez, with a pitch on her knee brace — and did it again later in the inning in the same spot, making an awful sound — then proceeded to watch the Mountain Lions rack up nine hits, mixed in with two Broomfield errors in the horrendous inning.
“We just need to keep making (Taylor) mentally tougher,” Seifried said. “Last year it was a little easier being a first baseman and getting to hit, rather than being the pitcher and having more pressure on you.
“We just need to grow with her this year and that is what she is doing. She’ll be fine, I’m not worried.”
When all was said and done, every single member of the Mountain View lineup recorded a hit and an RBI.
For Broomfield offensively, Jackson had two hits and two RBIs, and Amelia Trotter, despite going hitless, also drove in two runs.
Seifried’s message apparently was taken to heart, as the Eagles rebounded for a 10-5 win against Heritage in their tournament finale. Gilmore led the way by going 3 for 5 with a double, home run, and three RBIs.
Follow Jon on Twitter: twitter.com/JonEYunt
Mountain View 17, Broomfield 8
At The Ballparks at Erie
Broomfield 305 000 — 8 7 4
Mountain View 401 0(12)x — 17 14 3
W — Melaragno (3-0). L — Gilmore (4-3).
Broomfield hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) — Megan Biesterfeld 3-2-1-1, Kenzie Jackson 3-1-2-2, Lindsey Malkin 2-1-1-1, Taylor Gilmore 3-1-0-0, Kenzie Brock 3-0-1-1, Brittany Brophy 0-1-0-0, Kendall Lockwood 3-0-0-0, Amelia Trotter 1-0-0-2, Brennan Goodwin 3-1-1-0, Hannah Shores 3-1-1-0. Totals 24-8-7-7. 2B — Malkin.
Mountain View hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) — Tara Shadowen 5-2-3-3, Gianna Melaragno 5-2-2-2, Courtney Baeckel 3-2-2-1, Taylor Seely 3-2-1-2, Jerhen Montez 2-3-2-2, Kaley Barker 4-1-1-1, Alyssa McWilliams 3-2-1-2, Kendra Seeley 3-2-1-2, Izzy Griego 4-1-1-1. Totals 32-17-14-16. 2B — Shadowen.. SB —Melaragno, T. Seely.
Broomfield pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Gilmore 5-14-17-12-2-3.
Mountain View pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Melaragno 6-7-8-3-5-3.
Broomfield 10, Heritage 5
At The Ballparks at Erie
Heritage 014 000 0 — 5 9 2
Broomfield 240 022 x — 10 11 1
W — Biesterfeld.
Broomfield hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) — Bohn 2-0-0-0, Brock 3-0-1-0, Lockwood 2-0-0-0, Gilmore 4-2-3-5, Malkin 4-2-2-1, Morales 1-0-0-0, Thomas 3-0-0-0, Trotter 4-1-1-0, Shores 2-2-0-0, Jackson 4-2-3-3, Biesterfeld 2-1-1-0.
Broomfield pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Biesterfeld 3-7-5-5-1-1; Bohn 4-2-0-0-2-3.
