Young Onaway team loses two to #7 ranked Hillman
by Angie Asam-Staff Writer
Tuesday was the first time the Onaway softball team had a chance to get outside, unfortunately it was a game situation and not a practice. The Cardinals dropped both games of a doubleheader to the #7 ranked Hillman Tigers.
Game one started off well for the Cardinals as freshman pitcher Alyssa Nash walked one and allowed no hits and the inning ended in a 0-0 tie. In the second inning the Cardinals went down in order, via the strikeout.
Hillman came to bat in the bottom of the second and was able to take advantage of some fielding errors to bust the game open. With one out in the inning coach Jodi Brewbaker brought freshman Skylar Butler to the mound to try to stop the bleeding. The game ended with the Tigers winning 15-0. Onaway had singles from Ashley LaLonde and Lexi Szymoniak in the game.
“The jitters and nerves went away some in the second game. We settled down a bit and had a better showing,” said coach Jodi Brewbaker.
Szymoniak took the mound in the second game and went the distance striking out four as the Cardinals fell 8-3. Onaway jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the game but the Tigers came charging back, putting the ball in play and taking advantage of some Cardinal miscues.
Ashley LaLonde was 3-3 with an RBI in the game to lead the offense. Jade Galer, Szymoniak and Erika Price each had two hits. Price added an RBI a
“Our hitting really came around in the second game. Lexi pitched a great game. In the first game my freshman pitched well, but they were very nervous. It is hard to get ready for a game when you haven’t been outside. We are a young team and we will get better,” said coach Brewbaker.
The Cardinals were also without two starters in the contest with Morganne Badgero out of town and Devin Bristley sidelined with a sore shoulder.
The softball team is off until April 21 when they open the Ski Valley Conference season at Pellston. The team hopes to get outside and practice before then.