The Fort Calhoun softball team shook off a 10-0 loss to Omaha Mercy on Sept. 12 and entered Monday's home game against Tekamah-Herman on a four-game win streak.
“We had a bad week last week and, this weekend, we pulled it together and just came out on top as a team,” outfielder Taylor Nolan said.
The momentum continued against the Tigers with coach Mandy Taylor's squad earning an 8-0 shutout victory. The Pioneers routed Yutan/Mead on Tuesday, too, and are 14-5 overall.
After a scoreless first inning Monday, FCHS scored first against the Tigers when Kaylee Taylor was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. That's when Nolan stepped into the batter's box with two outs, the bases still loaded and her team ahead 1-0.
“I knew I had to come in and attack the ball and get on no matter what,” she said.
The senior delivered, plating Tacey Belina, Anna Taylor and Kaylee Taylor with a bases-clearing triple. Her hard liner to right field gave the Pioneers an early four-run advantage.
“When you have that energy when you're up, it's going to stick with you the whole game as long as you're up,” Nolan said. “You don't want to be down.”
Calhoun held its lead and kept scoring with four more runs in the third frame. To start, Lucie Larsen produced an RBI triple before Belina scored her on an RBI double.
Anna Taylor next sent a Tekamah pitch over the outfield fence for a two-run home run — her third homer in less than a week.
“I feel like I'm definitely seeing the ball better,” the junior said. “I used to pull my head and over-stride. So, I feel like my stride is a lot shorter and it's just all put together now.”
From there, Taylor — the slugger and starting pitcher — threw two more scoreless innings for the five-inning, run-rule victory. Nolan preserved the shutout by tracking down a deep fly ball in centerfield to end the game.
“Our whole pitching staff is doing really well,” Anna Taylor said. “We're throwing the ball hard, getting good movement and, yeah, just doing good.”
FCHS bests Patriots by 10
The Pioneers' winning streak hit six games Tuesday as coach Taylor's team won at Yutan/Mead 11-1 in four innings.
Senior Kaitlyn Welchert highlighted the victory with a fourth-inning grand slam. Nolan and Belina added two RBIs apiece, while Anna Taylor, Sam Brewer and Larsen had one each.
Belina earned the pitching win, too, striking out eight Patriots.
FCHS was scheduled to face Arlington on Thursday and plays during the Nebraska Capitol Conference Tournament on Saturday in Louisville.
FCHS SOFTBALL LINE SCORES
Tuesday
Fort Calhoun 11, Yutan/Mead 1, 4 inn.
FCHS (14-5) 2 2 2 5 — 11
YM (6-8) 0 0 1 0 — 1
Monday
Fort Calhoun 8, Tekamah-Herman 0, 5 inn.
TK (5-15) 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
FCHS (13-5) 0 4 4 0 X — 8
