With the Monday night air cool, Fort Calhoun softball coach Mandy Taylor took a deep breath after two subdistrict routs and noted just how the Pioneers are firing on all cylinders.
“We've got good problems,” she said after 15-1 and 10-2 home victories against Gothenburg and Central City, respectively. “I've got girls on the bench right now that could come in and hit when I need them to come in and hit. It's hard to have them sit on the bench, but I appreciate that they're playing for their team and doing whatever role is asked of them in whatever moment.”
Even better, Taylor said, No. 4 FCHS (23-5 overall) excelled in the field during the Class C Subdistrict 6 tournament.
“The thing that I loved the most tonight was our defense,” she explained. “Of course, we've already talked about in the past that the little things matter and, defensively, we played very clean.”
Balanced offensive and defensive play could help Calhoun land its first NSAA Class C State Championships appearance. It'll play for it noon today when the Pioneers host a best-of-three district finals series against Albion Boone Central (17-13).
First though, FCHS had to set up that matchup with a pair of home wins Monday. It earned the first by 14 runs against Gothenburg — the school that beat the Pioneers in last year's district finals.
Kaylee Taylor scored the home squad's first run on a passed ball during the first inning before Dehlia Hallberg tallied the next. From there, Addie Benoit — who had five RBIs — homered twice and Tacey Belina once. Hallberg, Kaylee Taylor and Izzy Nolan all doubled, too, while Anna Taylor earned the pitching win with four strikeouts.
Against Central City, Belina notched seven strikeouts during an eight-run victory. Allison Prunty and Kaylee Taylor both tripled, while Benoit matched Prunty with three more RBIs.
Izzy Greenough had two hits as well, matching the team lead.
“We've proved that we can hit and adjust off of a lot of different types of pitchers,” Coach Taylor said.
Today, the Pioneers will attempt to hit off of Cardinals and qualify for their first state tournament. It starts next Wednesday in Hastings.
FCHS SOFTBALL LINE SCORES
Tuesday
No. 4 Fort Calhoun 10, Central City 2, 6 inn.
CC (18-15) 1 0 0 0 0 1 — 2 2 2
FCHS (23-5) 4 0 0 4 0 2 — 10 11 0
No. 4 Fort Calhoun 15, Gothenburg 1, 3 inn.
GHS (7-18) 0 0 1 — 1 1 2
FCHS (22-5) 2 7 6 — 15 11 2
