Colby/Abby softball bounced by Bluejays, Pirates

By Nathaniel Underwood

The Colby/Abbotsford team had their first home game and their first Cloverbelt game of the season over the past week. After falling to both Athens and Gilman, the co-op dropped to 0-3 so far in 2025.

Athens, 24-11

The co-op hosted Athens on Monday for their home opener of the 2025 season. While the Colby/Abby bats were able to come up with 11 runs on 10 hits, the Bluejays had an impressive day of their own on offense, dealing the co-op a 24-11 loss.

Colby/Abby managed to score in four of the five innings played but could not quite keep up with Athens, who used a 12-run third inning to pull away from the home team.

The co-op held a brief lead after putting up a crooked number in the first inning. The first six batters were able to reach safely for the co-op, getting four straight singles from Nevaeh Treankler, Tatum Bargender, Elizabeth Perez and Audrey Fleischmann. Perez was able to knot the score at 1-1 with her RBI hit while Fleischmann drove in two to put the co-op ahead on her single.

However, walks would become an issue for the co-op in the second. Four free passes plus a hit-by-pitch and two hits for the Bluejays saw them retake the lead, scoring six runs in the frame. The Colby/ Abby offense had no response in the bottom half of the inning and the game quickly got out of hand as the Athens’ bats caught fire in the third.

The Bluejays ripped eight of their 12 hits in the third, including four that went for extra bases. They were also able to draw six walks, eventually allowing 12 runs to cross the plate.

Fleischmann was able to swipe home and Lucia Perez knocked in a pair of runs with a double in the bottom of the frame and Elizabeth Perez was able to come home to score after a walk in the fourth, but the co-op would not be able to get any closer. A five-run fifth for Athens gave them their largest lead of the evening, essentially putting the game out of reach. The co-op got a bases loaded single from Fleischmann, driving in two runs, and aggressive baserunning allowed Colby/Abby to notch two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough to keep the game alive.

Fleischmann had four RBIs and scored two runs on two hits in three at-bats and stole six bases. Lucia Perez and Bargender both were perfect at the plate, with the former going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored and the latter going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Elizabeth Perez scored three runs and had one RBI and Kierslyn Orth was able to draw a walk in all four of her plate appearances. Treankler and Ella Schreiber both had a hit in the loss.

Bargender went two-and-two-thirds innings for Colby/Abby on the mound, surrendering 19 runs on 10 hits and 10 walks while striking out two. Treankler added an inning-and-a-third, giving up four runs on six walks and one hit and Schreiber closed out the game, surrendering one run on one hit and striking out one in an inning’s worth of work.

Gilman, 11-0

Colby/Abby traveled to Gilman last Tuesday for their first conference game of the season. The Pirates were able to hold the co-op’s lineup in check, allowing just two hits and four base runners, while utilizing a big fourth inning to down the visitors 11-0.

Though starting pitcher Tatum Bargender only allowed four hits in the loss, Gilman was able to take advantage of a few errors by the Colby/Abby defense to take a significant lead over their Cloverbelt foes.

The Pirates were able to turn a leadoff walk and a single in the second inning into two runs after a defensive miscue by the co-op, taking a 2-0 lead in the process. After a quick third inning, Gilman was able to bat around in the fourth, bringing home nine runs on three singles and two walks. The home team was once again able to take advantage of errors by Colby/Abby, as only three of the nine runs scored were earned in the inning.

Meanwhile, the co-op lineup was not able to come up with any answers against

See C/A SOFTBALL / Page 15

HITTING THE CUTOFF - Kierslyn Orth throws the ball back into the infield after tracking it down in centerfield during the co-op’s Monday afternoon game against Athens.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

BARRELING UP THE BALL - Nevaeh Treankler lines up a pitch against the Bluejays. The senior went 1-for-4 at the plate and scored a run.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

SERVING UP A STRIKE - Tatum Bargender loads up before unleashing a strike against Athens. She also had a solid day at the plate, collecting three hits and scoring two runs.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD C/A softball

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Gilman’s Scarlett Stuner. The Pirates’ starting pitcher went all five innings, striking out seven batters while surrendering only two hits. Bargender came up with both of those for Colby/Abby, getting singles in the first and fourth innings. A stolen base put her on second base in the first and an error by the Pirates helped her get to third in the fourth, but she was left stranded in both cases.

Bargender pitched all four innings for Colby/Abby, giving up 11 runs on four hits and four walks, though only three runs were earned. She also went 2-for-2 from the plate.

NICE STOP - Elizabeth Perez throws the ball to first for a force out after grabbing a ground ball hit to third.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD