Softball opens seasons 2-0

By Bruce Karnick
Posted 4/21/23

As season openers go, this one could not have gone much better for the Raiders, even with the unwanted extra snow. Hill Murray was the first opponent and neither of the team’s fields was …

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Softball opens seasons 2-0

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As season openers go, this one could not have gone much better for the Raiders, even with the unwanted extra snow. Hill Murray was the first opponent and neither of the team’s fields was playable, so the Pioneers made a call to West St. Paul to use the sports dome. They had an 11 a.m. time slot open and the team took it, and Hastings came out on top 3-0.

Both teams looked a bit out of practice during warmups and some of that carried into the start of the game, even the pitchers looked a little off at first. Haley Strain started on the mound for the Raiders and even though she pitched a great game overall, tossing 72 pitches for 62 strikes and 11 balls, she threw nine of those balls in the first three innings. Strain settled in nicely to lead the shutout performance with 13 strikeouts and one walk. Strain also only allowed two hits in a near-perfect game.

The Raider offense started a little slow too, in the first inning Lauren Jenkins flew out to center for her first at-bat, granted, the centerfielder made an amazing grab to stop a would-be triple. Lauren Muhl was walked for the lone Raider base runner, but the Pioneers pitcher was able to then strike out the rest of the side.

The second inning saw the first Raider threat to score, Addie Seleski made it to first on an error by the catcher, then Emily Dembroski hit a hard grounder to the shortstop who made an error allowing Seleski to advance to third after reaching second on the fielders choice, but that is where the scoring threat ended.

Jenkins crushed the ball again in the third for a double then a perfectly executed fake bunt and steal to reach third, but she was stranded there.

In the fourth, Kaylee Hunt was walked, stole second, advanced to third by Seleski’s sacrifice bunt, but became another Raider stranded at third.

With four innings in the books, the score was still knotted at zero. But then the fifth inning happened. Sienna McCoy flew out to center, Jenkins hit a single to left then stole two bases when Muhl was at the plate. Muhl walked to put runners at first and third with one out. Muhl stole second then Lauren Meyer hit a single to the left side of the infield scoring Jenkins and advancing Muhl to third. Kylie Evans grounded out to second scoring Muhl to give the Raiders the 2-0 lead.

Hastings held on to that lead until the top of the seventh when McCoy added an insurance run on an error by the catcher. Hastings went on to win 3-0.

The Raiders traveled to Harmon Field on April 14th to take on the South St. Paul Packers and had a little less trouble scoring there, winning 8-3. Full game details were not available prior to press time.

The next chance to catch the Raiders in action is April 20th at Simley, then again on April 25th at home against Tartan.