The girls’ softball team finished the regular season with a 14-5 overall record, a 12-2 record in the conference and a 2-2 record in the section. That, according to the section 3AAAA coaches, put them as the fourth best team in the section behind 17-3 Rosemount, 11-8 Eagan and 12-8 East Ridge. The fourth-place finish earned them a home section game against the fifth seeded Park Wolfpack.
The regular season finished with the girls defeating Simley 4-2 at home on May 13 and then an exhibition game at Prescott, Wi on May 17, a 5-3 loss.
At Simley
The Hastings Raiders softball team, led by head coach Becca Sorenson, continues to show grit and power as they rolled to a dominant 4-2 victory against Simley on May 13 before taking a tough 5-3 loss on May 17 on the road at Prescott, WI. The two recent games highlighted the Raiders’ deep roster, consistent pitching, and timely hitting, especially from pitcher and slugger Haley Strain, who played a central role in both contests.
Raiders dominate Simley with early offense and Strain’s arm
Hosting Simley on their home field, the Raiders wasted no time taking control. After holding Simley scoreless in the top of the first, Hastings responded with purpose in the bottom half. Sienna McCoy opened the inning with a sharp single to left, setting the tone. Though a pop-out followed, Strain delivered a booming double to bring home McCoy for the first run of the game. Claire Reider kept the momentum going with a single that drove in Strain and advanced to second on an error. By the end of the first, Hastings led 2-0.
Strain took the circle and immediately began dealing. She struck out the side in the top of the first, setting a tone of dominance that would last all game. Simley managed a few baserunners via walks but never gained traction against Strain’s fastball and changing speeds.
In the third, Hastings padded their lead. After Lauren Muhl reached on a single and advanced on a steal, Reider once again came through with an RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0. Alyssa Leos followed with a single that brought Reider home for a 4-0 cushion. The Raiders were in full control, their bats alive and pitching sharp.
Simley attempted a late push in the sixth and seventh innings. A walk and a double finally put a run on the board in the sixth, and another run followed in the seventh after another double and single, but the Raiders' defense shut the door. Strain ended the game with her 13th strikeout, capping off a dominant performance that included multiple innings of striking out the side.
The final score read 4-2 in favor of Hastings, with Strain earning the win and leading the offensive attack. She was backed by strong defensive plays and key hits throughout the lineup.
Tight loss at Prescott after fast start
The following game saw Hastings travel to Wisconsin to face the Prescott Cardinals in a non-conference matchup. The Raiders again came out swinging, grabbing an early lead in the first. McCoy and Lauren Robinson started with back-to-back singles, and after a groundout by Strain moved both runners over, Reider reached on an error to plate McCoy. Hastings was up 1-0 and had more opportunities, but two flyouts stranded runners.
Strain followed her stellar outing against Simley with another impressive start on the mound. She struck out the side in the first and kept Prescott hitless through the second. Meanwhile, Hastings added to their lead in the third. Robinson reached again and scored when Strain singled and advanced on an error, making it 2-0. Lily Watts added a single, but the inning ended with runners left on base.
In the fifth, Robinson kept things rolling with a double to right. She came around to score on Reider’s infield single, pushing the lead to 3-0. At that point, it looked like Hastings might cruise to another win.
Prescott had other plans.
The bottom of the sixth unraveled quickly for the Raiders. After two quick outs, a pair of singles and back-to-back doubles brought three runs across. An error by Hastings infield allowed another run, and just like that, a 3-0 lead became a 5-3 deficit. The Raiders were suddenly on the back foot with one final chance.
In the top of the seventh, the Prescott defense held strong. Robinson, Strain, and Reider each grounded out in quick succession. The Raiders had dropped a heartbreaker but still walked away with positives.
Key players stepping up
Strain once again proved why she is one of the team’s leaders. Across the two games, she tallied multiple hits, including a crucial double and single against Simley, and struck out 20 batters between both outings. Her calm presence on the mound and ability to deliver at the plate continues to lift the Raiders.
Reider had a standout week as well, consistently producing in the middle of the lineup. Her bat was hot in both contests, collecting three RBI against Simley and driving in another against Prescott.
Robinson contributed three hits over the two games, showing strong situational hitting and aggressive baserunning. Meanwhile, McCoy set the table well in both games, and Muhl added key hits and hustle on the basepaths.
Strong fundamentals and aggressive play
Coach Sorenson’s squad continues to show that they are built for postseason play. They hit the ball hard, work deep into counts, and pressure defenses with smart baserunning. Strain’s reliability in the circle has given the team a stable foundation, and the defense behind her continues to deliver.
The win over Simley was a textbook example of how this team wants to play. Score early, pitch aggressively, and capitalize on mistakes. The Prescott game, while a loss, still highlighted their toughness and the ability to stay competitive against quality opponents.
Looking ahead
As the season moves into the section playoffs, Hastings has the grit, determination and talent to make a run toward state. That started Monday and continues all week in a double elimination setup. The Raiders could have games Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week with the Section Championship at 3:00 p.m. on May 28. The rest of the games between now and then are determined by how the Raiders finish each game earlier in the week. We will do our best to keep you updated via our Facebook page.