Lady Jays Softball
Tournament Trend Continues
By Jessa Kraft
On Saturday, September 7, the Bluejay softball team aimed for Albion to compete in the Boone Central tournament. There were only four teams in the bracket including Pierce, Centura, Boone Central, and Polk County, so the Jays competed against all of the other teams in the roster.
First, Pierce played Polk County, and lost 10-1. The only run was scored by Evelyn Skrdla off an RBI made by Jessa Kraft in the first inning. The batting percentages in this game were led by Kraft, Skrdla, and Peyton Brunckhorst, all with .500 averages.
Secondly, the Jays played Boone Central. It was a close game, but the Bluejays lost 11-10. Skrdla, Kraft, Brunckhorst, and Kaelyn Halsey all smacked doubles throughout the game. Kraft also hit a home run over the left field fence during her third time up to bat. Skrdla led the team with a 1.000 batting average and three stolen bases. Kraft and Aubrey Hanson followed close behind with .750 averages. Hanson, Halsey, and Alexis Sporleder each had one stolen base.
In the final and third game, Pierce secured a win, avenging an earlier in the season loss, over Centura. The Bluejays had competed with the Centurions at the Wayne tournament, where Pierce lost 9-4. Kraft had two doubles in this game; Hanson also cracked a triple. Kraft captained the bats with a batting average of 1.000. Hanson followed with a .667 average. The game ended abruptly, Pierce being in the lead, with a double play made by Hanson, Brunckhorst, and Shaylee Gardner. The ending score of the match was 9-6, and this game being Pierce’s one win in the tournament.
On Tuesday, September 10, the Bluejays will battle Guardian Angels Central Catholic (GACC) on Pierce’s home field at 6:00 p.m.
Battle of the Birds
By Jessa Kraft
On September 5, Pierce’s softball team made the trip to O’Neill hoping for a win but fell short by three runs. The ending score was 6-3 in favor of the Eagles.
In the first and second innings, neither team scored.
In the third inning, O'Neill ended the streak with four runs on Pierce’s errors and the Jays scored none, making the score 4-0, with the Eagles in the lead.
In the fourth inning, O’Neill scored one and Pierce scored none. The score after this inning was 5-0.
“We need to clean up the little things and errors,” junior Kylie Dvorak stated.
Pierce finally woke up in the fifth inning, battling back with three runs scored. Evelyn Skrdla started the charge with a single, hit to center field. Aubrey Hanson slammed a triple to left field changing the tide of the Bluejay’s mood, and brought Skrdla and Alexis Sporleder home. Jessa Kraft slammed a double to deep in center field, causing the last RBI (runs batted in) with Hanson scoring. The Jays held the Eagles at bay allowing zero runs this inning. The ending score of the fifth inning was 5-3 with O’Neill on top.
The Eagles scored one run in the sixth inning, and the Bluejays scored none making the score 6-3.
Neither team scored in the final and seventh inning, and the game ended with O’Neill winning 6-3.
Hanson and Kaelyn Halsey led the team with a batting average of .500. Sporleder and Kraft followed, both with an average of .333.
Five of Pierce’s players had perfect fielding percentages.
On Tuesday, September 10th, the Bluejays will battle Guardian Angels Central Catholic (GACC) on Pierce’s home field at 6:00 p.m.
