The Eagle softball bats were smoking hot over their first two games of the season, as they overcame an early Indian lead to down Forest City 20-10 last Monday in the home opener. They followed that up on Wednesday with a road win 21-9 over West Hancock. However, it wasn’t so good the rest of the week with two total runs in the next three contests.
They plated five runs in the first, then had two more huge innings with six scores each in the second and fourth frames versus the Indians.
Three ladies had multiple hits as Braxton Steil, Sabrina Flumerfelt and Addy Jeske stroked two singles each. Flumerfelt drove in three scores. Braxton Steil pitched a nice game in relief to earn the win.
Eagles 20, Indians 10
Player AB H R RBI
Friedl 0 0 4 0
B. Steil 3 2 1 2
Flumerfelt 5 2 3 3
Al. Jeske 1 1 0 0
S. Kaiser 3 1 1 1
Ch. Steil 2 0 1 1
Ad. Jeske 4 2 2 0
N. Kaiser 0 0 3 0
Axtell 1 0 1 0
Other runs scored: Osborne 2, Ca. Steil, Middleton 1 ea.
Walks: Friedl 5, S. Kaiser, Ch. Steil, Axtell 2 ea., B. Steil,
N. Kaiser, Osborne 1 ea.
HBP: N. Kaiser 3, B. Steil 1
Steals: Friedl, Ch. Steil, Ad. Jeske 1 ea.
Pitching IP H ER BB K’s
B.Steil (w)5 5 3 3 6
Al. Jeske 1 2 3 1 3
“We had a lot of excitement and energy for this game, our first in almost two years,” stated head coach Jim McLaughlin. “What a great way to start the season. After a back and forth contest in the early innings, we took control of the game and won it in six. Alexa started, but unfortunately was injured in the bottom of the first. Braxton came in and pitched the rest of the game.” The JV won 7-6 with Brooklyn Osborne pitching them to the victory.
The hits just kept coming two nights later as the purple & gold exploded for 10 scores in their half of the second. Not content with that, they proceeded to add nine more between the fourth and fifth innings. Flumerfelt swung the big stick in this one, rocketing the optic yellow ball over the fence and also blasting a triple to score no less than nine total runs. Addy Jeske connected three times and Celeste Figueroa twice, both doubles. B. Steil picked up her second win with eight K’s.
“It was a really great game, and I felt that we all did amazing and it showed,” said Flumerfelt. “Everyone hustled and we all have been working hard and that showed! Hitting that grand slam was a huge accomplishment to me. I loved how excited everyone was and the support from the team and all of our fans.”
EG Eagles 21, WH Eagles 9
Player AB H R RBI
Friedl 1 0 3 2
Ad. Jeske 3 3 4 3
B. Steil 2 1 1 2
Flumerfelt 5 4 2 9
S. Kaiser 4 1 1 1
Figueroa 2 2 4 0
Axtell 2 0 1 0
N. Kaiser 0 0 0 0
Ch. Steil 1 1 0 0
Other hits: Middleton 1
Other runs: Conaway, Middleton 2 ea., Ca. Steil 1
Walks: Friedl 4, B. Steil 3, Ad. Jeske, Figueroa, Axtell,
Middleton 2 ea., S. Kaiser, Ch. Steil 1 ea.
HBP: Ch. Steil 1
Steals: Figueroa 2, six others at 1 ea.
Pitching IP H ER BB K’s
B.Steil (w) 5 9 5 2 8
“We continued the scoring barrage with a five-inning win,” said the coach. “Sabrina had a night to remember. Her nine RBI were the most in one game in the 20 years that I’ve been the coach.” The JV won again 15-5 behind Osborne’s 11 K’s.
In a Friday home battle of unbeaten teams, visiting Belmond-Klemme took a 12-0 win on a no-hitter from Maddison Dougherty. Steil allowed three earned runs on eight hits with six walks and two strikeouts. “Our bats were quieted by the Bronco’s pitcher,” said McLaughlin. “Lea was our only baserunner as she got a lead off walk. Our defense broke down quite a bit in committing nine errors in the game. Many of our players are showing their inexperience in the field. These learning experiences will only make us better down the road.” The JV won their game by an 11-6 final.
The purple & gold traveled to a Saturday tournament hosted by Newman Catholic. They lost to the host Knights 12-2 as Friedl and Addy Jeske provided the only scores. Friedl drew a walk in the first, followed by an Addy Jeske single and a Braxton Steil walk to load the bags. Both Lea and Addy then scored on a wild pitch. After that, it would be Maddison Kaiser as the only other baserunner. Brooklyn Osborne took the loss in the circle.
Knights 12, Eagles 2
Player AB H R RBI
Friedl 2 0 1 0
Ad. Jeske 2 1 1 0
B. Steil 1 0 0 0
Flumerfelt 2 0 0 0
S. Kaiser 2 0 0 0
Middleton 2 0 0 0
Osborne 2 0 0 0
N. Kaiser 1 0 0 0
M. Kaiser 2 1 0 0
Walks: Friedl, B. Steil 1 ea.
Pitching IP H ER BB K’s
Osborne (l) 4.1 11 7 4 0
They played St. Ansgar and lost 12-0 to the Saints. Middleton had the only hit, a single, while B. Steil took the loss in allowing seven earned on 11 hits with a walk and two K’s.
“We ran into two good, experienced teams that are just better than we are at this point,” said the coach. “Twelve seemed to be our unlucky number for the day. Lea made an outstanding diving catch at second, and both Addy and Braxton made some good plays at third and short. Our young and inexperienced team has been gaining a lot of valuable experience we can only get by playing the games. We’ve shown up every game with energy, enthusiasm and effort, and all this while having fun.”
