By Bruce Karnick

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The Raiders and Spartans have come together for a cause.

Raider head coach Jennifer Thesing came to Hastings from Simley where she worked with Kelly Darrow and Pat Gilbertson who were part of her staff there. Simley’s Athletic Director, Kim Madigan, passed away from cancer two years ago, so Darrow and Gilbertson asked Thesing about collaborating on an event to honor Madigan. The joint effort gave birth to the “Strike Out Cancer” games.

Each year, Simley and Hastings will play each other twice, home and away. At both games, the teams will wear custom Tshirts designed by the players before and after the game. This year, Simley designed the Tshirt, next year, Hastings will, and they will alternate the following years.

“It shows that softball is more than just a game,” said Thesing. “We are part of something bigger.”

With this being the first season of the event, the teams kept it simple. Going forward, the plan is to turn the game into a bit of a fundraiser to help fight cancer. The players also chose someone they know that has been affected by cancer to personally honor them by writing their name on the sleeve of their Tshirt.

The Simley game was actually Hastings’ second game of the news cycle, and the game report should start with Hastings versus Two Rivers.

The game against the Warriors on April 19 started out as a pitchers’ duel. Haley Strain on the mound for Hastings and Kallie Frett for Two Rivers. The score remained tied 00 until the top of the fifth when the Warriors scored one on a double by Ella Bannie. Until that point, Strain and the Raiders had only given up two hits.

Hastings reacted with a giant bottom of the fifth. Strain lead off and struck out, Sienna McCoy hit a single to left, then stole second. Jessica Peine bunted a single scoring McCoy from second and advanced herself to second on the throw home. Mackenzie Tryba hit a single to right center that advanced Peine to third. Tryba then stole second. Kendal Jenkins was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Reanna Reinke crushed the second pitch she saw to the center field fence for a basesclearing triple. Lauren Jenkins hit a grounder to short for the second out of the inning but Reinke scored on an error on the play giving Hastings the 51 lead.

Hastings added one more in the bottom of the sixth when Kylie Evans was walked. Evans was replaced on the bases by Emily Dembroski. Dembroski scored on a double by Tryba.

Two Rivers tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh but fell short when Bri Cruz popped up to Alissa Johnson to end the game. Hastings won 63 and moved to 20 on the young season.

Offensively, Reinke lead the team with three RBIs along with Peine and Tryba each logging one. Kendal Jenkins, Reinke, McCoy, Peine, Tryba and Dembroski each scored once. Defensively, Strain went the distance on the mound for Hastings tossing 71 total pitches, striking out seven and walking three and the Raider defense committed no errors.

Against the Spartans on April 21, Hastings wasted no time jumping out to an early 30 lead. Tryba kicked things off in the bottom of the second with a walk and a stolen base. Peine struck out and Olivia Mattson was walked. With two runners on, Kendal Jenkins moved the runners up a base on a ground out to second. Reinke drove a liner to left where the fielder misplayed it allowing her to reach on an error and allowing two runs to score on the same error. Lauren Jenkins hit one to the fence in right for a triple, scoring Reinke before the side was retired.

Simley got one back in the top of the fifth and Hastings added two of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson made it to second on the second error by the left fielder. A wild pitch to Kylie Evans moved Johnson to third who then stole home when Evans stole second after being walked. Tryba moved Evans over on a sacrifice bunt. Peine was walked, putting runners on the corners and Mattson’s single up the middle, scored Evans.

Hastings won 51. Offensively, Lauren Jenkins and Olivia Mattson each had an RBI. Reinke, Johnson, Tryba, Mattson and Dembroski each scored a run. Defensively, Hastings had one error in the field behind a stellar pitching performance of Strain. Strain and the defense allowed one run on four hits. Strain faced 25 batters throwing 91 pitches, 56 for strikes with five strikeouts with two walks.

Overall, Thesing was happy with how the team has played the first few games of the season.

“This week we had two solid wins. We have played good allaround ball. I’d like to see us improve by making quicker adjustments on offense, but things are going well. Defensively, Haley has been great on the mound and the team has really rallied around her in the field.”

The next chance to catch the Raiders in action is at Mahtomedi on April 28, then at South St. Paul at Harmon Field on May 2, both games are scheduled for a 4:15 start time. May 3, the Raiders will host Burnsville for their Teacher Appreciation game. The festivities will be before the 4:30 first pitch. May 4 they host Tartan at 3:30 and may 6, they travel to Hill Murray, also for a 3:30 game.

Photo courtesy of Scott Tryba and Jennifer Thesing

Photo by Bruce Karnick

The Raider infield celebrates a quick inning behind pitcher Haley Strain. Defensively, Hastings played very well against Sibley. Left to right: Haley Strain, Abby Trapp, Alissa Johnson and Mackenzie Tryba.