75th Article at the Independent

PREP SOFTBALL: Lakeview earns first victory of the season in doubleheader split with Dawson-Boyd

CHRIS DRUMMOND cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

COTTONWOOD — The Lakeview softball team was in search of its first win of the season after dropping its first seven games while its opponent, Dawson-Boyd, looked to keep its recent momentum going after getting its first win of the year earlier in the week. Thanks to a strong start, Lakeview took the opener 7-3 before DB bounced back in game two with a 14-7 win on Thursday.

In game one, the Lakers jumped on DB with timely hits and aggressive baserunning, scoring six runs in the top of the second inning. The Lakers would maintain the lead for the rest of the game and close out DB 7-3. Lakeview freshman catcher/infielder Aubreigh Rausch had three hits to go along with three RBIs. Teammate junior Grace Rausch threw a complete game and struck out nine in the victory.

In game two, DB punched first scoring two runs in the second inning, but the Lakers would respond by retaking the lead after scoring three runs in the very next inning. Then Dawson-Boyd’s bats woke up.

DB would score seven runs on as many hits and broke a close game wide open, netting a 9-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the fourth. The Lakers continuously chipped away at the lead as they cut the deficit in half to three by the end of six innings. However, a stoppage would ensue, as both coaches and umpires would have a meeting. This would be a pivotal point in the seventh inning because DB would add to its lead by scoring four runs and making it a 14-6 advantage and eventually closed out to a 14-7 win, earning a split in a road doubleheader.

DB had 25 hits in game two with starting catcher Alivia Haas getting three of those hits. DB head coach Kelly Wente assessed her team’s performance in the game.

“Game one we had really good pitching, just struggled with fielding,” Wente said. “In game two, our bats got going and we pitched really well. We have two really good pitchers in Haas and Allison Estling and we’re getting better every week working on all aspects of the game.”

Lakeview head coach Chelsey Evans also elaborated on her team’s performance in the game.

“Both pitchers on our side came out ready to go, they limited their walks, which is something we’ve been working on,” Evans said. “Our defense made a couple of errors at key times, which cost us that second game. Overall, I thought the girls played well, they improved every practice and game, that’s all we could ask of them.”

Evans also chimed in on why the stoppage occurred in the seventh.

“We got the out in the prior inning on the girl in the rundown on bases and the very next inning they batted out of order, but nothing could be done about it because we didn’t catch it in time,” Evans said.

Thus DB was able to score four runs in that final inning without an out occuring.

Dawson-Boyd (2-8) will host MACCRAY in doubleheader action on Monday evening at 4:30/6:30 p.m. while Lakeview (1-8) will travel to play against BOLD today at 5 p.m