PREP SOFTBALL: Badgers dominate in season opener
Badger Ryelle Short hits a three-run triple in the sixth inning to seal a victory in the home opener.
Photo by NED NEWTON
BONNERS FERRY — The Bonners Ferry Badgers softball team opened the season with two wins against Lincoln County in a home doubleheader March 29.
“We had a good start,” said head coach Cynthia Sumpter. “We started off base running with confidence, and almost too much confidence. But I wanted the girls to do that to see what they’re capable of. And once we were in control, we really came together. We had great contact, and we ran the bases very aggressively.”
In the first game, the Badgers had a one-run lead, 18-17, going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Then Bonners Ferry had its best inning offensively, scoring 10 runs, causing the game to get called off with a final score of 28-17.
Badger Ryelle Short delivered the final haymaker with a bases loaded triple, driving in three runs to seal the deal. Short also hit a double, stole eight bases and got the win from the mound, pitching three innings.
Senior Jaydin Falck, a Big Bend Community College softball commit, got on base in all four plate appearances, walking twice, singling, tripling, driving in three runs and stealing five bases.
Three Badgers — Sadie Frederickson, Jennifer Petersen and Short — recorded four hits. Eight Badgers had multiple hits.
Frederickson also homered to open the second inning, where the Badgers scored seven runs.
The second game was called off after three innings, with the Badgers cruising to victory 16-0, allowing just one hit. The final blow came from an inside the park home run by Hannah Frago. Petersen got the win, pitching three innings and allowing just two base runners and striking out three hitters.
Other notable scoring plays include three Badgers stealing home base, a bases loaded triple by Petersen, a two-run triple by Short and an RBI double by Falck.
“We don't normally get the opportunity to have our first game at home; we usually go to Orofino, so it was great being at home,” Sumpter said. “That gives us a confidence boost. We were able to push our limits and see what we are capable of.”
The Badgers’ next game will be at home on April 5 against Troy.
“Last year, we only had three home games, so we’ll definitely enjoy lots of home games on the schedule,” Sumpter said.
Senior Night will be April 23 in a home game against Priest River.
GAME ONE
Lincoln County 2 1 7 1 4 2 – 17 13 1
Bonners Ferry 7 7 3 1 0 10 – 28 23 0
PITCHING
BF – Petersen: 3IP, 9H, 9R, 1BB, 1K. Short: 3IP, 4H, 7R, 5BB, 4K. LC – Richarson: 5.1IP, 23H, 27R, 13BB, 3K.
BATTING:
HITS: BF – Petersen 4, Short 4, Frederickson 4, Curtis 2, Falck 2, Hibbard 2, Hillard 2, McBride 2, Schmier 1. LC – Tkachyk 4, Sieler 2, McKim 2, Triana 1, Williams 1, Neesvig 1, Jackson 1, McAfee 1.
HR: BF – Frederickson. 3B: BF – Short, Falck. 2B: BF – Hillard, Curtis, McBride, Short. LC – Tkachyk 2, McKim 2.
RBI: BF – Short 5, Falck 3, Petersen 2, Frederickson 2, Hillard 2, McBride 2, Hibbard 1, Schmier 1, Curtis 1. LC – Tkachyk 3, Williams 2, McKim 2, Neesvig 1, Sieler 1, Jackson 1, McAfee 1.
GAME TWO
Lincoln County 0 0 0 – 0 1 0
Bonners Ferry 5 6 5 – 16 11 0
PITCHING
BF – Petersen: 3IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3K. LC – Cook: 2.2IP, 11H, 16R, 6BB, 1K.
BATTING
HITS: BF – Short 3, Frago 2, Falck 2, Curtis 1, Schmier 1, Petersen 1, Stroemer 1. LC – Traina 1.
HR: BF – Frago. 3B: BF – Short, Petersen. 2B: BF – Falck.
RBI: BF – Frago 4, Petersen 3, Falck 2, Short 2, Schmier 1, Stoemer 1.