Gretna ace tosses perfect game against Hastings High

Gretna’s ace pitcher put on a perfect performance Tuesday against Hastings High on Tuesday at the Smith Softball Complex. The Dragons’ hurler, Alexis Jensen, struck out every Hastings High batter. That’s 15 batters up and 15 batters down as Gretna blanked the Tigers 12-0 in the game shortened to five innings due to the run rule.

Hastings’ players knew that Jensen was going to come into the game as one of the state’s best — if not THE best pitcher. “I thought we came out with the right mindset,” said HHS coach Blake Marquardt who saw his Class B No. 3 Tigers’ record slip to 13-4.



“We just didn’t compete in the batters box as much as I think we could have.” With the win, the Dragons extended their record to 23-0. They are rated No.

1 in Nebraska by the Omaha World-Herald. And MaxPreps website lists Gretna as America’s top high school team. Jensen, a Nebraska Cornhusker commit, has a fastball that the Tigers just couldn’t handle.

“Alexis was really good tonight. A big part of it was that she was well-rested,” said Gretna coach Bill Heard. “I think the sky’s the limit for her, I really do.

She’s got a really bright future at that (Nebraska).” The Gretna coach said Jensen’s fastball averages in the mid-60 miles per hour range. Early in the game, the Tigers stayed within striking distance of the powerful Dragons.

HHS trailed 4-0 through the first two innings. But Gretna’s batters caught fire in the fifth frame and cranked out eight runs on seven hits to build up a 12-0 lead. Hastings couldn’t score in its half of the fifth, and the game ended on the run rule.

Tiger pitcher Ella Tinsman held her own against Gretna until the fateful fifth stanza. But the Dragons’ batters piled up 15 hits, including four doubles against the HHS defense. “Ella pitched a really nice game until the fifth (inning).

Then we made some mistakes and gave them an extra out or two. Against a good team you can’t.” Tinsman looked good in the circle in the second, third and fourth innings.

The Tiger freshman recorded three strikes outs in a row during that span. The Tigers’ defense retired Gretna in order during the fourth inning on three fly outs. Tinsman fanned two of Gretna’s three batters in the third inning.

Hastings left fielder Pyper Witte displayed a web gem. She ran down a hard hit ball and caught it to prevent an extra-base hit and got the Tiger defense off the field in the fourth inning. Gretna (23-0).

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310 08x x — 12 15 0 Hastings (13-4)...

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.000 00x x — 0 0 0 W — Alexis Jensen. L — Ella Tinsman.

2B — G, Jensen, Anniston Trevarrow, Brylee Rupiper 2..