After 16 games and one scrimmage, the softball team concluded their season with two wins. Despite their losing streak, the girls made strong plays throughout their final games.
On April 18, the Bulldogs played a doubleheader away against the New Brighton Lions. During the first game, the outfield was working hard in the first inning to get batters out. Caitlyn Costanza (10) and Mackenzie Mohrbacher (11) made two catches. At the bottom of the first, the score was 0-0.
In the second inning, Charlotte Rywolt (9) stole second base but was unable to make it to third. Throughout the next three innings, New Brighton scored multiple triples, making it difficult for the Bulldog gang to catch up. The final score of the first game was 0-14.
The second game against the Lions featured a similar outcome as the first. New Brighton took the lead in the first inning, getting multiple singles, walks and steals. The Lions were up by 10 at the bottom of the first.
In the second inning, the girls scored three runs. The first was by Emily Lawrence (9) running a triple and reaching home plate on a defensive error due to Rywolt’s single. With Rywolt already on first base, she was advanced to second, stole third and was brought home with a single from Rylie Vojtko (10). In the third inning, Mohrbacher drew a walk to first base and stole second base. She made it to home plate with a single from Haydan Baucan (12). The final score was 24-3.
The ladies took a week off until April 25, when they traveled to Aliquippa to get their first win of the season. In the first inning, Mohrbacher and Baucan scored in-park home runs. The ladies kept the pressure on the Quips with constant runs, which led the Bulldogs to be ahead by 10 points at the bottom of the first.
The following innings kept the Bulldogs in the lead, with another home run by Baucan and multiple steals. The game featured many pivotal players, with Jaylyn Gaiton (9), Costanza and Harmony Martin (12) all scoring three runs, and Mohrbacher and Baucan scoring four. The final score was 29-11, a large win for the Bulldogs.
“This was one of our longest games. Everyone was thrilled that we gained a win,” Janna Kline (11) said.
On April 28, the squad hosted Aliquippa for a second game. Before the first pitch, a senior night ceremony was held, as this was the squad’s last home game. Three seniors were recognized: Trista Somerville (12), Baucan and Martin, and they were presented with flowers. After the ceremony, gameplay followed as usual, with the Bulldogs picking up an early lead. After five innings, the final score was 19-8, the second of the team’s two wins.
“I loved playing with the girls on the team and how supportive and comforting they were when [the coach] took me out [of the game],” Somerville said.
The team had their last game of the season against Shenango on April 30. Shenango scored 11 runs in the first inning, enough to keep them in the lead for the rest of the game. The Bulldogs could not end on a high note, with a final score of 16-0.
With a final record of 2-14, the team hopes to do better next season, especially with several new players coming up from the middle school. As for the rest of the year, the team can look forward to their banquet at Ichiban Hibachi and Sushi Bar to commemorate the end of the season.