By Nick Beversdorf
Reporter
Hatchet varsity softball lost their first home game to Medford this past Thursday (April 28) with a final score of 12-3, generating nine hits and committing four errors. The next day Tomahawk faced off against Northland Pines and won with a final score of 39-1 , tallying 16 hits and just one error. These two games put Hatchet softball at 1-2 in the GNC and 3-4 overall.
For the first game the Hatchets struggled to make any big plays, offensively or defensively. Medford slowly accrued runs over the course of the game, culminating with five runs in the sixth. The Hatchets would get two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, but it wouldn’t be enough to stem the tide.
Big players for the Hatchets include Taylor Shilts with one run and three hits and Courtney Theiler with two RBIs, two hits and a triple. Pitching came courtesy of Rachel Dallman who struck out six while allowing three base on balls, 11 hits and 12 runs, 10 of them earned.
“The difference in this game came down to Medford getting big hits with runners in scoring position and the Hatchets not,” comments head coach John Larson. “Medford hit the ball hard, five of their 11 hits were extra base hits – two doubles, a triple and two home runs. The Hatchets stranded 11 baserunners and the bases were loaded twice. When we needed the big hit we couldn’t get it.”
The next game the following day saw a completely different outcome. The lady Hatchets defeated Northland Pines by a huge margin of 38 runs.
Tomahawk came swinging into the first inning, putting up eight runs. Pines would respond with just one run in the first inning, the only run they would score for the whole game. The Hatchets put up another eight runs in the second and six more in the third. The fourth inning saw no runs and then, to erase all doubt of a victory, the Hatchets put up a whopping 17 runs in the fifth. The game would be called shortly after.
Many Hatchet players provided runs for the team, including Taylor Shilts with five runs, two RBIs and two walks; Courtney Theiler with five runs, six RBIs, and a triple; Rachel Dallman with five runs, four RBIs, three walks and a double; Mikhayla Kleich with three runs, an RBI and two walks; Danielle Kurth with two runs, three RBIs, a double and one walk; and Katy Volz with three runs, five RBIs, and a double.
Pitching came courtesy of Dallman and Theiler. Dallman pitched three innings, striking out four while allowing one base on ball, no hits and one earned run. Theiler pitched the last two innings, striking out two while allowing two walks, one hit and no runs.
“This was a solid GNC win on the road,” adds Larson. “Rachel and Courtney combined for a one-hitter. Defensively, the Hatchets were very solid. Offensively, we were very patient and disciplined at the plate. We were able to come up with big hits, especially early to set the tone for the game. That discipline at the plate also allowed us to draw 21 walks. It was a complete game in all phases, a solid team win.”
Hatchet varsity softball will play their next game on Tuesday, May 5 at 5 p.m. at Mosinee.