Co-op softball wins two, evens record to 4-4
The Colby/Abby softball team had a very successful week, taking down both Owen-Withee and Spencer in need-towin conference games. Those victories bring their overall record to 4-4, which places them in third place in the Cloverbelt- East conference standings.
11-1
The Colby/Abby co-op invited Owen-Withee into town for a conference matchup on Thursday. Looking to bounce back from tough losses to Neillsville earlier in the week, the softball club found its footing in a 11-1 victory over the Blackhawks.
Freshman Tatum Bargender was once again on the mound for Colby/Abby. As she has done for much of the early season, Bargender tossed an efficient game, utilizing strikeouts and an error-free defense behind her to tear through the Owen- Withee lineup. With a solid defense and Bargender dealing, the question seemed to be if the Hornet offense could mount enough runs to take advantage, at least in the early-going. After being shutout in the first inning and scoring a single run in the second, the game seemed to be shaping up to be a tight one. This was especially so after the Blackhawks tied things up 1-1 in the top of the third. However, momentum shifted drastically in the bottom of the inning.
Led by a perfect four-for-four performance byHalieVanLuvenandtwotriples from Alea Graff, the Colby/Abby offense exploded in the second half of the game, scoring four runs in the third, and three more in both the fourth and fifth innings. The second triple by Graff in the fifth inning, a triple that she actually scored on due to an error by the Blackhawks, was what put the nail in the proverbial coffin. After that hit, the co-op had gone up 10-1 and the end seemed imminent. Several at-bats and a pitching change later and that was indeed the case, as the Hornets put up another run to bring their lead to ten, ending the game in five.
Bargender finished the game with an impressive seven-to-one, strikeout-towalk ratio and only gave up one run on five hits. She threw all five innings for the home team.
In addition to VanLuven’s four hits, she also scored four runs, stole two bases and batted home two runs. Kya Viegut scored three runs of her own and Kylie Orth had two RBIs on a single. Overall, the co-op amassed ten hits and six steals in the victory.
Spencer, 13-10
The co-op traveled to Spencer to take on the Rockets on Friday. They once again emerged victorious, coming out on top in a back-and-forth high scoring affair, 13-10.
When the two clubs had met earlier in the spring, it was a dominating performance by the Colby/Abby combination, breezing to a 16-0 win. Looking to defend their home field, the Rockets would aim to make things more competitive this time around, and indeed they would.
Spencer would take the early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning after keeping the co-op off the board in the top of the frame. The Colby/Abby defense then would settle into the game after giving up the quick start to the Rockets and the score remained 2-0 after two innings.
Keeping the game within reach would be key, giving the co-op bats the time they needed to warm up. After being held scoreless through two, the co-op would not be denied the second time through the lineup. In the top of the third they would score four runs, giving them the lead 4-2. This would be just the beginning for the Colby/Abby offense, which would go on to accumulate 15 hits for the game.
After holding Spencer in the bottom of the third and the teams trading runs in the fourth, both teams would take advantage of good hitting and sloppy defense to score a combined twelve runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Every time the co-op seemed like they were about to pull away, a gritty Rockets team would battle right back.
Going into the seventh, the score was tied at 10-10. The co-op offense continued to roll, scoring in the fifth straight inning by bringing three runs to the plate in the top of the inning. Most would likely feel comfortable with a three-run lead in the seventh, but given the way that Spencer had managed to close the gap over the second half of the game, it was anything but as the Rockets stepped in to try to recapture the lead. With the game on the line, it was the Colby/Abby defense that prevailed, curbing what had been a surging Spencer lineup and claiming the victory 13-10.
It was Bargender getting the call for the co-op, pitching all seven innings and collecting the win. Despite giving up ten runs, only five were earned, as the three errors by the co-op defense turned out to be costly ones. Bargender struck out nine and walked six.
Helping her own cause, Bargender also
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
went three-for-five at the plate, driving in three and collecting one triple. VanLuven and Graff also had three RBIs each, with Graff bringing hers in on a triple and a home run. Harrison Schmitt had two hits of her own, scoring once and driving in two.
After last week’s performances, the team’s record sits at 4-4 with six games remaining on the schedule. The girls will be heading to Marshfield to face off against Columbus on Thursday, May 5, before returning home the following Monday for a non-conference matchup against Auburndale.
