By Bruce Karnick

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With one game left in the regular season, the Friday, May 20 game at Simley, the Raiders softball team had some ground to try and make up in the last four games of play last week. The last five games of the season would not be easy for Hastings, facing Two Rivers, Visitation, North St. Paul, Mahtomedi and Simley with four of the five games on the road.

First up was Two Rivers. Hastings won the first meeting this season 63 back in the middle of April, and Two Rivers did not forget it. Unfortunately for Hastings, the Warriors bats were very alive with Two Rivers pounding 17 runs to Hastings’ nine.

With the big loss to Two Rivers, the Raiders went to Visitation with a chip on their shoulder. Hastings definitely took out their frustrations on Visitation, winning 210.

North St. Paul was the target just one day after the gigantic win at Visitation, but the emotional rollercoaster of a big loss and a big win and four games in five days had the Raiders running out of energy. Had Hastings saved a few of the runs scored against Visitation, the game against North would look different in the win/loss column. The Raiders fell 76.

Mahtomedi made the trip down for Softball Day Hastings, and the Raiders dominated the game from the start. Field one at Veterans Park was set up with a temporary fence at 200 feet for the day’s festivities, and the Raiders took advantage of the fence being 25 feet closer than their normal home field.

In the first inning, Reanna Reinke was walked, then Lauren Jenkins hit into a fielder’s choice, where Reinke was sent back to the bench, and Alissa Johnson came to the plate. Johnson took the 20 count and the third pitch she saw and crushed it over the left field fence for the Raiders first home run of the game and a 20 lead.

In the third, Kendal Jenkins hit a single, Reinke was walked a second time and this time Lauren Jenkins hit a threerun bomb to center to extend the Raider lead 50.

The fourth inning was almost a repeat of the third. Mary Terhark walked then was out as part of Mack Tryba’s grounder into a fielder’s choice. Olivia Mattson hit a single to left to setup senior Kendal Jenkins. Kendal looked at her little sister and said, “I can do that too.” She went “yard” to center for the Raiders’ third home run of the game and a 90 lead.

Mahtomedi scored one in the top of the fifth and Hastings added two in the bottom of the fifth to complete the 111 mercy rule win to close out Softball Day Hastings. The best stat of the day after the win is every single Raider that played in the game scored a run at least once. All nine batters stepped on home plate for the completeteam win. The Jenkins sisters each had two runs scored.

The last chance to catch the girls playing in the regular season is Friday, May 20 at Simley. No time is officially announced but expect a start between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.