PHS Softball
Bluejays Fight in Tough Match vs. NEN Vipers
By Abbie Cone
The Pierce Bluejays softball team hosted the NEN Vipers, a consolidated team from Wisner-Pilger and Pender, on September 11, and put up a battle all night. Despite the score falling 17-6 in favor of the Vipers, the Bluejays refused to give up.
The first inning was scoreless for both teams, but in the second, the Vipers scored four runs. In the third and fourth innings, the Bluejays were still held scoreless, but the Vipers added two more runs, making the score 6-0 in favor of the Vipers. However, in the fifth inning, the Bluejays were not ready to be done with the game, and put up two runs on the scoreboard, while only giving the Vipers one run, making the score 7-2. The sixth inning was full of energy for the Bluejays, adding four more runs to their score and holding the Vipers to none, trailing 7-6 going into the top of the seventh.
“Our energy came up in those last innings, our top batters were coming up in the line up and everyone was ready to turn up the heat,” Jessa Kraft comments about how the team was able to respond in the fifth inning.
Despite their efforts, the seventh inning went in favor of the Vipers, who scored 10 runs and the Bluejays scored zero, with a final score of 17-6.
Maelee Hamilton led Pierce with two runs, Athena Bretschneider, Savannah Beutler, Joslynn Kraft, and Evelyn Skrdla all added one run.
Jessa Kraft also racked up four hits throughout the night, and Pierce had a total of 13 hits. Kylie Dvorak had a double, Skrdla had a triple, and Hamilton had two RBI’s.
“I thought the girls responded well. They didn’t get flustered when we were down, and settled in and started playing to their potential and made it interesting. I was happy with how they battled throughout the night, and how some players stepped into new roles with some injuries we’ve sustained,” head coach Grant King remarked.
The Bluejays will compete at David City Aquinas on Thursday, September 18.
The Bluejays Take on the Guardian Angels
By Rylee Altwine
The Bluejay softball team traveled to West Point on Tuesday, September 9, to face Guardian Angels Central Catholic, who defeated Pierce 6-0.
Guardian Angels started the first inning off scoring four runs. Putting a stop to GACC, the Pierce Bluejays did not allow them to score in the second inning. Swinging into the third, Pierce let only one runner touch home plate. Sliding into the fourth and fifth innings, the Pierce Bluejays protected home plate, not allowing the opposing team to score. Closing the night off, in the sixth and seventh innings, Guardian Angels sent one runner home, ending with a score of 6-0.
“As a team, we need to work on communication, not hanging our heads when we are down, but we need to work harder when we are down,” sophomore first basemanMaelee Hamilton states.
“I felt I did pretty decent; I was hitting the ball off the GACC pitcher, and she was a good pitcher. I can definitely improve in many areas, such as infield and outfield work,” senior Savannah Beutler states. “As a team, we can all improve on things, especially talking within the dugout and lifting each other up. Another thing we can all work on is moving on after making a mistake, because sometimes we like to hang our heads and let it get to us,”
