GILMAN SOFTBALL - Gilman softball team starts conference play with an 11-0 rout
GILMAN SOFTBALL
After a tough, tragic week in town, the Gilman Pirates were able to get back to some softball Tuesday and took care of business in their Eastern Cloverbelt Conference opener, shutting out Colby-Abbotsford 11-0 in five innings.
Scarlett Stuner threw her best game of the season, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. She did not issue a walk.
Offensively, Gilman put up two runs in the second and then used a big nine-run bottom of the fourth to put the game away.
“I was really proud of the girls,” Gilman head coach Brian Phelps said. “They are so resilient.”
On a cold, blustery afternoon, the Pirates collected seven hits off Colby-Abbotsford starter Tatum Bargender, who walked four. They did not strike out in four innings. While the Hornets committed two errors, 10 of the runs were earned.
“They bunted a lot but our defense really responded well to that,” Phelps said. “Our catcher Averie Olynick took a big step forward. She did a nice job back there.”
Gilman had one hit apiece from seven different batters and nine different players scored at least one run. Allie Olynick was one of the offensive leaders with two runs scored and a walk to go along with a hit. Raygen Soper scored twice and reached on an error. Kayleigh James hit the ball hard all three times she batted at the top of the order and had one hit to show for it. Kenlyn Kroeplin had two of Gilman’s six stolen bases.
“It was a solid all-around effort,” Phelps said.
On Monday, Gilman was scheduled to host Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran, but the Lancers made the decision midafternoon to not make the trip another cold and very windy afternoon.
The Pirates hope to avoid forecasted stormy weather today, Thursday, to get a solid non-conference test at Thorp. On Monday, Gilman and Flambeau will try for the third time this season to play a nonconference game against each other. The Pirates hope to host that at 4:30 p.m. before jumping back into conference play Tuesday at Spencer with a first pitch at 5 p.m. Gilman is at Loyal-Greenwood on April 25.
