Lady Jays Softball
Lady Jays Compete in Ponca Triangular
By Addison Sporleder
The Pierce Lady Jay softball team traveled to Ponca on Thursday, September 22, to compete in a triangular against the Ponca Indians and the Logan View/Scribner-Snyder Raiders (LVSS). Despite their efforts, the Lady Jays lost 8-7 to the Raiders and 8-3 to the Indians.
For the first game, Pierce played LVSS to start the night. In the first inning, the Lady Jays came out on top with scoring one run and held the Raiders to none. Heading to the second, Pierce did not score any, but LVSS put three runs on the board. For the third inning, the Lady Jays added one to their score, and the Raiders brought in four more. In the fourth, Pierce remained scoreless while LVSS added one more. In the fifth and final inning, the Lady Jays finished strong by scoring five runs, but unfortunately it was not enough to come back. This brought the game to a final of 8-7.
Head coach Marika VonSeggern stated about the first game, “Against LVSS we gave up a few too many runs but offensively were able to get into scoring position and make a great effort to try to come back and win. LVSS had some great hits and just were able to outscore us. A couple of HUGE hits from Chelsey Ottis really kept us going. I was proud of the girls for not giving up and playing through the entire game.”
Pierce had a total of nine hits for this game. Senior Lauren Darnall led the team with three hits, followed behind sophomores Aubrey Hanson and Chelsey Ottis with two each. Seniors Brooke Reddest and Isabelle Skrdla each contributed one hit to the game. Ottis, Reddest, Darnall, and Skrdla each scored one run. Peyton Brunckhorst, Angeline Skrdla, and Madelyn Hanson also scored one run for the game.
In the second game of the night, Pierce took on the Ponca Indians. For the first inning, the Lady Jays were held to none while the Indians scored one run. Moving to the second, Pierce put up one run and held Ponca to none. In the third inning, the Lady Jays added two runs to their total, but the Indians outscored them by adding three runs to their score. Heading to the fourth inning, the Lady Jays were held scoreless while the Indians brought in four runs. In the fifth and final inning, Pierce had the opportunity to bat in the top half but were unable to score, leaving the game at 8-3.
Darnall and M. Hanson each had one hit in this game. Darnall also had one RBI. I. Skrdla, and the Hanson sisters scored the three runs for Pierce.
Ottis stated, “I think that the games went really well. For the first game, we were smart on the bases and in the batters' box, and in the second game what went well was our defense.”
The Lady Jays will be back in action on Thursday, September 29, at the Pierce Softball Complex against Polk County.
Pierce Drops To Twin River
By Addison Sporleder
The Pierce Lady Jays softball team traveled to Genoa to compete against the Twin River Titans on Tuesday, September 20. After four and a half innings, the Lady Jays were unsuccessful and fell with a score of 13-3.
Head coach Marika VonSeggern said, “Our offense is coming back. We've been struggling to hit to where the defense isn't and in this game, all the girls had a great mindset of going out and getting out of our hitting slump. I also felt like the girls did really well to battle the heat. We only had 11 girls for JV and varsity. I had some ladies really step up and play with great energy.”
Starting off in the first inning, Pierce scored one run in the top half, but Twin River came out stronger and scored four. Moving to the second, the Lady Jays outscored the Titans 2-1, bringing the score to 5-3 after two innings. In the third inning, Pierce remained scoreless as Twin River added eight runs to their score. Pierce had the chance to bat one more time in the top of the four inning, but unfortunately could not put up any. This ended the game with a score of 13-3.
Seniors Brooke Reddest and Lauren Darnall led the team in hits with two each, including one home run by Darnall. Aubrey Hanson and Alexis Sporleder each added one hit, with Sporleder’s being a double. Sporleder, Darnall, and Madelyn Hanson scored the three runs Pierce put up on the night.
Darnall led the team in stolen bases with two, followed by M. Hanson, Sporleder, and Isabelle Skrdla with one each.
Reddest commented on the night, “The game wasn’t the best defensively; there’s things we all need to improve on, but overall we did alright. We did well when we were up to bat.”
The softball team will be back on the field on Thursday, September 29, against Polk County at the Pierce Softball Complex.