Knights down Panthers, fall in remaining week’s games
By Ginna Young
The week started out for a dominating win for the Cornell-Lake Holcombe softball program, but the next three games didn’t go their way.
May 3 vs. Prairie Farm conference (W 17-2)
The Knights went to call on the Panthers of Prairie Farm, taking the offense with them.
Cornell-Lake Holcombe jumped out to an 11-0 lead during the first inning and after that, it was almost all the Knights on the scoreboard. The Panthers did put up a run in each of the first and third innings, but the Knights added three more runs in the second and also in the third innings, to take a 17-2 victory.
“We finally swung the bats well and played a complete game, offensively, defensively and mentally,” said coach Andy Lorenzen.
Sophomore Grace Harycki and freshman Bralee Schroeder led for the Knights, with 3 hits each, followed by sophomores Makya Hetherington and Brooke Anderson, who each had 2. Senior Teaira Spaeth, junior Michayla Turchen and Rachel Schilling, and freshman Izabelle Schwingle, all contributed a hit.
On the mound, Anderson went all three innings in the game, giving up just 2 hits, 2 runs and 4 walks, while striking out 4.
May 5 vs. Northwood-Solon Springs conference (L 11-1)
Two days later, the Knights played host to Northwood-Solon Springs and the Evergreen came in swinging. The visiting team added five runs to the board in the first inning and five in the fourth, while the Knights went scoreless.
“We were unable to get anything going offensively,” said Lorenzen. “Northwoods-Solon Springs is a very good, stateranked team. We would have been able to play with them, if we made all the routine plays.”
After some miscues, leading to errors, the Knights saw the Evergreen add yet another run in the sixth inning and while the home team finally got on the board with a run in their side of that inning, that was all the offense they could muster.
The match-up went to Northwood-Solon Springs, 11-1. “We are still a young team, with a lot of room for improvement before playoffs,” said Lorenzen.
May 7 vs. Gilman non-conference (L 7-6)
It was then off to Gilman, for a weekend tournament. The Knights nearly came off with the game, but the Pirates squeaked by, for a 7-6 non-conference win.
May 7 vs. Spencer non-conference (L 13-8)
The next game in the tournament was against Spencer, but the non-conference bout also went the way of the Knights’ opponents.
