The Class B No. 2 Blair High School softball team didn't waste any time Monday during the Class B Subdistrict 2 Tournament at the Youth Sports Complex.
Pitcher Brooke Janning allowed one hit across eight innings as the Bears (27-7 overall) picked up two run-rule wins and moved onto today's best-of-three district finals series. BHS hosts Grand Island Central Catholic (17-13) beginning at noon.
“We wanted to make sure we played really hyped all game — both games,” Bears coach Jennifer Fangmeier said Monday after 14-0 and 9-0 victories against Platteview and Ralston, respectively. “We wanted to make sure we made adjustments early rather than later, and I thought we did a really good job of that.”
The subdistrict's top seed was productive at the plate from the beginning.
“Putting runs up in the first inning of both games set the tone for the entire day,” Fangmeier added.
First, Blair scored four first-inning runs and 14 overall during the rout of the Trojans. Kaitlynn O'Neil's three-run homer ended it during the third frame after Jacy Schueth (two RBIs), Abby Leggott (two), Janning (two) and she all plated runs previously, too. London Larsen and Mia McClain scored a team-best three runs apiece during the postseason victory, while Janning and Leggott split pitching duties.
Then, during the second game against Ralston, the Bears' Taytum Macholan produced the biggest hit. Her solo homer gave BHS a 6-0 lead during the third frame.
Additionally, Janning had two doubles and two RBIs, while O'Neil, Regan Blattert and Emmi Hall also plated runs. Janning struck out nine Rams from the circle as well.
After the quick wins, the Bears quickly looked ahead to what's next.
“We're not going to change a lot,” Fangmeier said. “We're just going to hone in, make sure we sharpen everything up.”
Central Catholic is on the agenda with hopes of victory and a spot for next Wednesday's start to the NSAA Class B Softball Championships in Hastings. Blair, notably, earned runner-up honors last fall.
“Day-by-day,” Fangmeier said. “One win at a time.”
BHS SOFTBALL LINE SCORES
Monday
No. 2 Blair 9, Ralston 0, 5 inn.
RHS (19-11) 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 1
BHS (27-7) 4 1 3 1 X — 9 13 0
No. 2 Blair 14, Platteview 0, 3 inn.
PHS (10-19) 0 0 0 — 0 0 4
BHS (26-7) 4 5 5 — 14 8 0
