|
Softball team stumbles against Wapello, 10-4
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · June 22, 2017
The Bears’ softball team lost a non-conference game to the visiting Wapello Indians June 13.
The final score was 10-4.
“I told them afterward, this was a team effort,” West Branch Head Coach Kevin Kaalberg said. “We didn’t hit the ball well, we didn’t pitch well. We’re making some mistakes in the field. They’re going through a tough stretch. You find out what kind of kids you have when you go through a tough stretch. This is a good group of kids. They’re going to keep working. It will come around. I’m not worried about that part as long as they keep their heads up.”
This was Kaalberg’s final game as head coach at West Branch. He has since resigned and declined to comment.
West Branch Superintendent Kevin Hatfield said, “Like all employee matters, the district has communication restrictions. The district’s head softball coach resigned upon a review of coaching policies and regulations.”
The Bears held Wapello scoreless in the top of the first. The first Wapello batter drew a base on balls. The next batter advanced the runner on a bunt but was out. West Branch pitcher Kaiya Luneckas fielded the ball and threw to Kaylee Montgomery at first for the first out of the inning. The next batter was walked. The next batter bunted for another out. Chloe Pence at third base fielded the ball and threw to Montgomery for the out. The runners advanced to second and third. The next batter flied out to Taylor Thein in center field for the third out.
West Branch scored one run in the bottom of the first. Nicki Henson led off with a base on balls. The next batter flied out, and Henson advanced to second base. Montgomery singled, sending Henson to third base. Annika Olson ran for Montgomery. Olson stole second base. DaLana Kron singled to load the bases. Taylor Tisinger walked, and Henson scored. A strikeout ended the inning, and the Bears had a 1-0 lead.
There was no scoring in the second inning. Catcher Maddie Hatfield fielded a dropped third strike in the top of the second and got the batter out. The next two batters struck out.
In the Bears’ half of the inning, the first batter grounded out. The next popped out. Henson walked and stole second. A strike out ended the inning.
In the top of the third, Montgomery fielded the first ball hit and threw to Kron, who was covering first, for the first out of the inning. Three walks, a single, and a double scored four runs for the Indians.
The Bears were scoreless in the bottom of the third. Kron got a two-out single, but a strikeout stranded her.
In the top of the fourth, Wapello scored three runs on two singles, an error, a walk, and a double to take a 7-1 lead.
The Bears scored one run in the bottom half of the inning. Courtney Jarrett led off with a double. Hatfield drew a base on balls to put runners at first and second. The next batter flied out. MacKenzie Heise singled to load the bases. The next batter was out on an infield fly rule. Montgomery was hit by a pitch, and Jarrett scored. The next batter flied out to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the first Wapello batter flied out to Pence at third base. Three walks loaded the bases. Another walk scored a run for the Indians. After a single, the Bears got a force out at home. The next batter grounded out to bring up the West Branch half of the fifth.
The Bears scored two runs in the fifth. Jarrett drew a two-out base on balls. Hatfield hit a home run to score the two runs. A fly out ended the inning.
Wapello scored a run in the top of the sixth. A batter walked with two outs and stole second base. The Bears got a groundout, but the runner scored first.
The Bears were scoreless in the bottom of the sixth. Montgomery had a two-out single, but a fly out ended the inning.
In the top of the seventh, the Indians grounded out to shortstop Lexie Peak. The next batter singled. The runner stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. The runner stole home. After a single, a groundout to center field ended the half-inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hanna Tisinger drew a one-out base on balls. A strike out and a fly out ended the game.
“We got some baserunners on and started doing some things well,” Wapello Head Coach Shannon Salizar said. “We ran the bases well and the runs just started to come.”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R
Wap 0 0 4 3 1 1 1 10
WB 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 4
West Branch stats (unofficial): Nicki Henson 2 walks, 1 run; Kaylee Montgomery 2-3, 1 hit by pitch; Annika Olson 1 steal; DaLana Kron 2-4; Courtney Jarrett 1-3, 2 runs, 1 walk; Maddie Hatfield 2-3, 1 home run, 2 RBIs; MacKenzie Heise 1-2; Hanna Tisinger 1 walk.
Wapello stats: Mady Reid 2 runs, 3 walks; Samantha Smith 1-3, 2 walks; Addisyn Lolling 1-3, 2 walks; Assisyn Lolling 1-3, 1 run, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 1 stolen base, 2 walks; Abby Kerr 1 RBI; Emma Reid 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI; Eryka Dickey 1-3, 1 run, 1 walk; Toni Bohlen 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk; Allyah Lolling 1-3, 1 run, 1 walk; Sammy Ewart 1-2, 2 runs, 1 walk; Emily Hahnbaum 1-1; Baylee Reid 1 run; Holly Massner 1 run. Pitching: Samantha Smith pitched 7 innings and got the win. She gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits. He walked five and struck out six.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
