Rochester John Marshall High School Athletics

The John Marshall softball squad opened the Section One, Class AAAA playoffs on Tuesday with a 12-2 win over crosstown rival Century. 

The No. 6-seeded Panthers got off to a strong start when Emma Kartheiser led off the game with a double, and Century went on to score two runs in the first inning.

JM, the No. 3 seed, wasted no time in responding. Gina Pula had an RBI double as the Rockets scored twice in the bottom of the first, tying the game at 2-all. 

From that point on, it was all JM. Grace Feed homered to lead off the third inning, and Megan Karp blasted a two-run shot in a four-run fourth inning. Finally, Olivia Evans ended the game with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the fifth to cap another four-run inning.

JM pitcher Abby Miles kept the Panthers in check after getting through the first inning, and the Rockets played error-free ball behind her.

"It was a good team win," JM coach Thang Nguyen said. "Our girls were aggressive at the plate and made the necessary adjustments against the Panthers pitching staff."

The Rockets will face No. 2 seed Farmington on Thursday in Austin, while Century will face No. 7 seed Mayo in an elimination game, also in Austin.   

John Marshall 12, Century 2

Century#200#00#—#2#6#4

John Marshall#202#44#—#12#6#0

No. 6 Century: Megan Kartheiser 2B; Grace Henriksen 2-for-2, RBI; Emma Kartheiser 2B, R.  Pitchers: Angela Spors 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; Grace Henriksen 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K; Emma Kartheiser 2/3 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K. 

No. 3 John Marshall: Grace Freed HR, 2 RBI, 3 R; Gina Pula 2B, RBI; Abby Gee 3 R, SB; Kaitlyn Ward 1-for-4, 3 RBI; Megan Karp HR, 2 RBI, 3 R; Melanie Sadecki 2B. Pitcher: Abby Miles (WP) 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.