ND senior throws farewell no-hitter

It was only fitting that Notre Dame senior Mika Williamson capped the Lady Bulldogs' spectacular softball regular season in spectacular fashion.

Williamson, playing her final home game on Senior Day, fired a no-hitter Tuesday as Notre Dame defeated St. Pius 6-0.

The victory sends the Lady Bulldogs into Thursday's Class 2A, District 2 action with a sterling 22-3 record.

"We played real well today and the girls played with a lot of intensity," said Notre Dame coach Chris Janet. "It was a good game to finish the regular season before the home crowd. I think they're ready for the postseason."

Williamson struck out seven batters and walked just one in throwing her first no-hitter at Notre Dame.

"She had real good control of her pitches," said Janet. "She was excited -- they all were -- being the last game."

Two other seniors also closed out their home careers with productive games. Katlyn Kelley had three of Notre Dame's 13 hits, while Tracey Kluesner had two sacrifices and scored two runs. Stacy Schwartz added three hits, including a double and three RBIs, and Ramona Blankenship had a pair of hits.

Schwartz drove in the Lady Bulldogs' first run in the first and brought home two more runs with her double in a three-run third. Notre Dame added its final two runs in the fourth.

Notre Dame, the top seed in district play, will face the Crystal City-East Prairie winner 4 p.m. Thursday in Crystal City.