Gator Softball Preview: Same goals, different season
By: Ryan Bergeron
A second place Class A state tournament finisher, the program’s highest, the Gator softball team had what their Head Coach Kent Christian called “an outstanding season” not just due to that high state finish.
“The girls came together as a team,” Coach Christian said.
Coach Christian sees this same attitude already in this season’s team, beginning practice just last week.
The end of last season, like other seasons, brought the time to say goodbye to some seniors—Aunica Novacek, Morgan Anderson, Kellie Parnow, and NadjaMelby—individuals the team will miss, each having her own role. Now the team moves on to a different season, but still having the same goals in mind. Coach Christian said they set the goal to win all their tournaments-- their two home regular season tournaments and the section playoffs—and a goal beyond wins and losses.
“We try to set the same goal every year and that’s to become the best team that we possibly can be and become the best people we can be,” Coach Christian said.
Leading his team to six state appearances since 2000, Coach Christian said he and his team don’t feel any pressure to perform as good, if not better, than last year, looking to take this season as a new one. That doesn’t mean the passion to perform at a high level isn’t there.
“Obviously we got a taste of it (state tournament success) now, so I think there’s that hunger for it,” Coach Christian said.
To accomplish another state tourney berth will require hard work, strong pitching, and consistent hitting, and as Coach Christian mentioned, “a little lady luck never hurts.”
The softball team’s level of success comes with having to be ready to take everyone’s best shot throughout the season, something Coach Christian feels like his program has had to deal with for numerous years.
“We always tell the girls that for a lot of teams this (game against us) is their biggest game of the year, and we like that challenge, and it probably will be more so this year,” Coach Christian said.
Here’s a breakdown of this season’s team by position, a group with many older athletes on it, some not having much varsity experience, but having waited for their chance.
Pitcher: Losing senior pitcher Aunica Novacek, Coach Christian has several arms he feels comfortable throwing out in the circle, ones not having much “big game experience” but being looked upon to step up. Coach Christian looks to senior Julia Stenberg to perform, proving to be the team’s number one pitcher during summer ball. Despite a winter foot injury, senior Rachel Peterson will be looked at to pitch some innings, along with Brenna Dallager and Gracei Gullikson. Coach Christian said the program still plans to find other girls showing interest in and working at pitching.
Catcher: Hannah Anderson, the team’s returning catcher, has the upper hand at this position and her coach looks for to have a successful season. Danielle Hoyer will also push for some time, showing great receiving skills behind the plate, but needing a little more consistency with the bat.
First Base: Losing senior Morgan Anderson at first base, the Gators have worked Abbie Brockhouse frequently at this position. Having a strong summer, Brockhouse showed a strong bat, but needs to learn some of the position’s nuances. Senior Amy Svir and Carly Mekash also could also play first base. Christian emphasized Mekash’s strong bat and wanting to find some place in the lineup for her.
“It’s really going to come down to who can play the best defense for us and who has the most consistent offense,” Coach Christian said about the first base position.
Second Base: A last season All-Conference player, Gullikson returns to possibly fill this position, but with the loss of senior shortstop Emily Anderson to an ACL injury during last basketball season, Gullikson could see some time at shortstop. Coach Christian also looks for O’ Brien Stromsodt, Sierrah Mooney, Mekash, and McKenna Burslie to also push for time there.
Shortstop: As mentioned, Gullikson could move over to this position. Dallager could move from third to this position, and Mekash and Mooney also could occupy this position, one of the team’s biggest question marks right now. Considered a “good athlete” by Coach Christian, Emmie Jacobson has been a “pleasant surprise” at the shortstop position so far this season.
Third Base: The Gators return Brenna Dallager at third base, doing an “outstanding job” at this position last season. Coach Christian remains hesitant to move Dallager from third base. Sierrah Mooney also has worked at this position.
Center field: Senior Taylor Becker returns to this position, a player Coach Christian believes they need a breakout year from this season. Josee Locken also could see some action in center field or left field, depending on her consistency in play.
Left field: Last year senior Kellie Parnow played some left field last season. This season, Peterson could see some time in left field, along with Mooney, Mekash, and Locken.
Right field: Svir could “definitely” see some time as this position. Also being looked at in this position, Chloe Vanderport and Montgomery DeZelar have shown improvement, close to seeing some varsity action but needing a little more time at the JV level. Makenna Burslie also could battle for a spot at this position.
Coach Christian added that Izzie Brockhouse and Katie Hamann could see some action in the outfield, but also need a little more time at the JV level.
The Gators return the same coaching staff to lead 32 girls participating in softball, grade seven to twelve. Head Coach Kent Christian begins year number 21 at the helm of the program. He has two assistants that he says do an “outstanding job,” including JV coach Dave Blazek and C-Team Coach Megan Kvien.
Together, the Gators are preparing to move on to a new chapter. That new chapter begins with a road game versus fellow Section 8A team, the Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal Titans, scheduled for Tuesday, April 5.
Copyright of The Tribune (Greenbush, Minn.)
GATOR SOFTBALL TEAM LOSSES SEASON OPENER
The BGMR Gator Softball Team travelled to Twin Valley to take on the Norman County East-UlenHitterdal Titans to open up their 2016 campaign. The Gators and Titans, who have a friendly and competitive rivalry, showed that both teams have a lot of work to do before they are tournament ready as the Titans beat the Gators 9-6.
The Titans would jump on the Gators early as they would score 3 runs in the first. This was aided by a Gator error that would have been the third out but turned into 3 runs for the Titans. The Gators would battle back and score 5 runs in the third only to have the Titans tie the game with 2 runs in their half of the third. The Titans would take the lead for good when they scored 4 runs in the fourth and the Gators were unable to mount any type of rally as the Titans settled down and played good softball the rest of the way.
Offensively the Gators were led by Brenna Dallager and Taylor Becker who had 2 hits apiece. Five other Gators managed to get a hit as the Gators managed 9 hits for the game. Lydia Klementson led the Titans with 2 hits and Jessica Gall, Regan Opsahl and Alayna Klementson each had 2 hits.
Gator starting pitcher Dallager pitched 5 innings and although Dallager was hit hard her teammates did not help her out as BGMR committed 8 errors which led to 6 unearned runs.
Defensively the Gators who are normally solid, struggled and this will be an area of emphasis as the Gators continue their season.
Mother Nature has been playing tricks in the north country. The Gators postponed their junior high tournament for this weekend and will look at hosting in on April 30th. The Gators hope to continue with their regular season play on Monday when they are suppose to host Thief River Falls and on Tuesday when the Northern Freeze are come to town. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and Gator Nation can come out and watch the defending Section 8A Champions.
SLOPPY DEFENSE CONTINUES BUT GATORS PREVAIL
Committing 15 errors in their first two games the BGMR Gator Softball Team would usually find itself with a 0-2 record. Fortunately the Gators came with their hitting shoes on and were able to beat the Northern Freeze 15-5 in a game shorten to 6 innings because of the 10 run rule.
The Gators would strike early as BGMR would plate 4 runs in the first inning before the Freeze could get an out. The Gators would add 1 run in the second and 1 more in the third to take a 6-0 lead. Playing solid defensive for the first 3 innings BGMR would go to sleep and the Freeze would take advantage. The Freeze would manage 5 runs over the next 3 innings with all the runs be unearned. Offensively the Gators would keep pace with 2 runs in the fourth, 4 in the fifth and ended the game with 3 runs in the sixth.
Offensively several Gators stepped up. Taylor Becker had 4 hits, and 3 RBI’s. Brenna Dallager and Abbie Brockhouse each had 2 hits and 3 RBI’s with Dallager scoring 4 times.
Gator starting pitcher Julia Stenberg threw a solid game. Stenberg threw a 3 hitter and walked only 1 to pick up her first victory of the year.
Defensively BGMR was solid for 3 innings but decided that fielding and catching the ball was not important the last 3 innings. This will obviously be even more of an area of emphasis in practice as the Gators get deeper into their season.
The Gators hope to have a double header tomorrow as they will take on a solid Roseau Ram team at 4:30 and Thief River Falls will come to town for a 6:00 game. Hopefully Mother Nature will cooperate and the Gators will be able to get into a bit of a rhythm.
Gator girls spilt home doubleheader
By: Ryan Bergeron
Gators 9 Rams 1
The Gator softball team came into a home matchup with the Roseau Rams on Thursday, April 14 after playing two error-riddled games, the first ending in a loss and the second in a victory. In this game, the Gator defense gave an improved performance, committing three errors, behind a solid performance by starting pitcher Rachel Peterson, and reaped the benefits in a 9-1 home victory over the Roseau Rams.
“She (Peterson) was tough…. I challenged her to begin with and thought she really threw a gem. I was real proud of her,” Gator Head Coach Kent Christian.
Peterson threw seven innings, surrendering just one unearned run on four hits and two walks and striking out two. Peterson may have thrown a gem in the pitching circle, but the Gator offense also had gem of a game at the plate, collecting nine hits, and took advantage of five Rams errors.
After a scoreless first inning by both teams, the Gators broke the game open in the bottom half of the second. With runners on second and third and no outs, Josee Locken ripped an RBI single up the middle to give the Gators a 1-0 lead. Carly Mekash later scored from third on a passed ball to add to the Gator lead. Gracei Gullikson capped the Gator second inning scoring, hitting an RBI line drive single up the middle and later coming around to score after Rams starting pitcher Jennica Johnson overthrew the first basemen on a grounder. The Gators led 4-0.
The Rams took advantage of a Gator error to score a fourth-inning run. With runners at first and second two outs, Gator second baseman Gullikson misplayed an infield blooper. The ball would roll away from Gullikson on the play and Abby Huss came around to score.
Leading 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Gators returned the favor by taking advantage of some Rams miscues. With runners on first and third following a Taylor Becker single, Brenna Dallager scored on a wild pitch and Becker came around to score after that wild pitch and a throwing error on the same play. The Gators led 6-1 heading into the sixth.
The Gators added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to create more separation, thanks to a Hannah Anderson RBI double, Dallager RBI groundout, and Becker RBI single.
Becker and Abbie Brockhouse led the way offensively for the Gators, each collecting two hits in the game. Overall, the Gator offense delivered a balanced attack, evidence by seven of the nine players getting at least one hit.
Ram shortstop Kate Wensloff led her team’s offensive effort with two hits. Rams starting pitcher Johnson pitched six innings, surrendering nine runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks, and striking out four in the losing effort.
Gators 4 Prowlers 6
The Gators completed their doubleheader versus the Thief River Falls Prowlers, now a Section 8AAA team under the new four-class softball system. Similar to the first game, the Gator’s offense got out to fast start, taking advantage of Prowlers miscues, but defensive miscues and missed opportunities on the offensive end resulted in a 6-4 loss.
“We didn’t play great defense this second game and it ended up costing us. But, we don’t have those strikeout pitchers, so we better be playing defense,” Coach Christian said.
The Gator offense jumped on the Prowlers miscues though in the first inning. With runners on second and third and one out following a Dallager double, the Gators’ Becker hit a ground ball to the shortstop that looked to end in an out and bring in a run, but Prowler shortstop KyleaPraska overthrew the first basemen. Backing up the throw, Prowler right fielder Erin Kraemer threw home to attempt to get the second runner, Dallager, out, but the ball went off line, going inside the dugout and bouncing out. Since the ball went out of play, the umpire ruled that Becker, standing on third, could come home, drawing an argument from the Prowler Head Coach Carter Rogalla and allowing the Gators to take a 3-0 lead.
Still holding the three-run lead, the Gators surrendered it in the top of the third. With runners at first and second and one out, Gator starting pitcher Dallager surrendered an RBI single to Prowlers second basemen Juliet Tunberg to cut the Gator lead to two.
Later in the inning with the bases loaded and two outs, Prowlers’ first basemen Mattlyn Erickson hit a two-RBI single to right to tie the game. Shortstop Praska atoned for her throwing error earlier in the game, following Erickson’s hit with a RBI single of her own to put the Gators behind 4-3.
In the bottom of the inning, the Gators responded, loading the bases with no outs without the benefit of a hit. Becker struck out, but Gracei Gullikson scored from third one pitch later on a wild pitch to tie the game. With the bases reloaded and one out, the Gators had a chance to still take the lead.
Mekash would hit a fielder’s choice to third after the third basemen threw home for the force out and Locken flew out on a deep fly ball to left field, ending the Gator threat.
“We had good people coming up (in the third). I think that (missed opportunities) kind of was the theme of the game because later in the game, we had runners at second and third with one out (in the fifth), and we had a strikeout and a groundout. Again, like I told the girls, we just didn’t come up with that big hit.”
The Gators allowed the Prowlers to cash in on their opportunities. With a runner on third and two outs, the Gators almost squeezed out of a fourth inning jam, but surrendered an RBI single to right to third basemen Kora Torkelson. The Gators trailed 5-4.
In the fifth inning, a Gator error led to the sixth Prowler run. Mattlyn Erickson hit a single to right, but the ball went under Gator right fielder Amy Svir’s glove and rolled all the way to the fence, allowing Erickson to score on the play.
Besides that fifth inning, the Gators didn’t threaten to score the rest of the way, stifled by Prowler freshmen pitcher Alexa Rogalla, surrendering just one run after the first inning.
“She just handled us. We had some opportunities. It just seemed they came with two outs and she battled and got out of the zone,” Coach Christian said. “I think she was effectively wild, definitely kept us off balance. (She) did a real nice job for being a freshman.”