Warriors overcome errors to defeat Montrose

It was far from a thing of beauty, but Elk Lake will take the win.

The Lady Warriors booted the ball around, committing six errors, but overcame those with a four-run third and some timely big outs from Division I recruit Brooke Darling to top Montrose, 4-2, in Tuesday’s District 2 Class AA semifinal.

“It was just nerves,” Elk Lake coach Tony Blaisure said. “The kids who made my mistakes are young, they’re freshman. But we’re there.”

For a few innings, it was no sure thing for the undefeated Lady Warriors (16-0). Dallas Ely reached on errors in the first and third and scored both times to give Montrose a 2-0 lead.

That’s when some of those younger kids came through.

“That was a huge thing to come back, especially the way the game started for a couple of the younger kids,” Blaisure said. “Casey Tyler got us a bunt single to force the issue and it was a big boost for the in that third inning.

“Taylor Watkins right after her got a bunt single to knock in a run. Then you could just see them get a smile on their face and relax. I saw some of our younger kids growing up a little bit, coming back from the adversity of being down 2-0.”

Elk Lake also got some big outs from its veteran pitcher.

Darling struck out a pair with the bases loaded in the fourth, and got a strikeout to end the game with the tying runs on board.

“She came through with three crucial strikeouts in those situations,” Blaisure said. “It was a gutsy performance in 90-degree temperatures.”