Aubrey Maurer came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning with Laconia trailing Mayville by a run.
She hit a sky-high fly ball that flew just over the left-center field fence to tie the game. The Spartans used that momentum to add another run and get a big 2-1 conference win over the Cardinals on Thursday night at Taylor Park.
"I think [the win] meant more to us than anyone could really know," Aubrey said. "It shows us how much we can actually do and kind of sets the standards for us."
After Maurer's homer, Lily Schultz singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Allyson Shafer. That set up a Kaylin Lemke line drive that went just over the glove of Cardinal shortstop Kate Aumann, which drove Schultz in for the lead.
Addison Maurer was stellar in the circle for Laconia. She allowed just three base runners all game against the potent Mayville (12-3 overall, 9-2 in Flyway) lineup.
Maurer said she credited her experience as well as her knowledge of the Cardinals' lineup to her success.
"We've played them for four years and a lot of the girls I've seen through travel ball," Maurer said. "[Mayville coach Steve Pliner] is my travel coach so I know him well and a lot of the girls.
"Honestly, the main thing was to keep it off the plate and keep it low. You just have to work your pitches."
Maurer certainly had it working; she struck out 11 batters.
With the runs not coming until the sixth inning, Maurer said she thinks earlier in her career she might have gotten impatient with the offense, but she has learned to be paitent and trust that the runs will come.
"At this point I have total confidence in my offense," Addison said. "I know they're going to back me up and I know they're going to make plays in the field. Full trust when you're a pitcher is something you have to have."
One of this hits Addison Maurer surrendered was a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning to Mayville's Hannah Wolf.
Aubrey Maurer praised her sister's effort in the circle.
"She's amazing," Aubrey said. "She works her butt off. I love her so much. She does everything she can to make sure she can do the best for her team and I really admire that from her."
Laconia (12-8, 7-5) coach Scott Ritzema said that the win provides some momentum heading towards the postseason.
"We have a good team," Ritzema said. "One of the things I love about our girls is that they've figured out how to fight hard. We want to make sure we continue to do that; we've got postseason coming up quick and we've got to be playing good ball."
Allie Schwirtz had 10 strikeouts for Mayville in the loss.
Stats courtesy, GameChanger
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