Trailing 4-3 through 3.5 innings, the Class C No. 9 Fort Calhoun softball team sent Tacey Belina up to bat with two outs Thursday against sixth-ranked Douglas County West.
That's when the game changed.
“It got good,” Pioneers junior Izzy Nolan said.
Belina blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence first before Addie Benoit followed it with a solo shot beyond the field of play in right. Coach Mandy Taylor's FCHS squad (8-3 overall) led 7-4, but it would win by run-rule, 12-4.
“With all of the hours we put in, it's muscle memory,” Belina said of the Pioneers' proficiency at the plate. “Just swing the bat how you know how to swing and you can hit the ball. I think that's just, kind of, what happened.”
Calhoun started with three runs across the first two innings, but the visiting Falcons had four and led through the third frame. During the bottom of the fourth, however, Allison Prunty and Kaylee Taylor singled, setting up the Pioneers' first homer.
Belina, a sophomore who also claimed the pitching win, said she learned about her opposition's pitching approach during earlier at-bats. The lessons led to a 6-4 advantage on the scoreboard before Benoit sent a low pitch over the head of a Falcons outfielder for another run.
“I thought, 'Oh gosh. I hope that's over,'” she said.
It was and FCHS built on its lead from there with a five-run fifth frame — the last of the ballgame. After a flyout, the Pioneers' Lucie Larsen singled. Prunty scored pinch runner Madi Larrick with a single next before Belina hit another DC West pitch hard through the infield for two more runs at 10-4.
Benoit doubled off of the fence next, eventually setting up Nolan, who came to the plate with two outs, but also an opportunity to end the game early.
“I struck out the first two times before that and I was just like, 'I need a hit,'” the junior said. “In my mind I was just saying, 'Hit. Hit. Hit.'”
She delivered, scoring the Pioneers' 11th and 12th runs of the run-rule victory against a ranked opponent. It was a big one against a ranked opponent, Benoit explained
“DC West is a pretty solid team, so we were a little nervous coming straight out,” the senior infielder saod. “But, once we got our bats going, we definitely relaxed.”
Pioneers play 2 at Cass
Izzy Greenough provided the walk-off swing Saturday as Fort Calhoun finished off a 2-0 day in Louisville. The Pioneers beat David City Aquinas 7-6 after an 11-5 win against the host Cass Wildcats.
Greenough was 1-for-3 against Aquinas, while Benoit and Belina notched two RBIs apiece.
Belina notched the pitching win against the Monarchs, too.
First, though, FCHS beat Cass by six runs. Dehlia Hallberg had three RBIs in the game, while Benoit had two and Belina tripled. Anna Taylor earned the pitching win, striking out seven batters.
FCHS SOFTBALL LINE SCORES
Saturday
No. 9 Fort Calhoun 7, David City Aquinas 6, 4 inn.
FCHS (8-3) 2 4 0 1 — 7 8 1
DCA 2 2 2 0 — 6 4 3
No. 9 Fort Calhoun 11, Cass 5, 4 inn.
FCHS (7-3) 3 0 8 0 — 11 9 1
CASS 1 0 3 1 — 5 6 3
Thursday
No. 9 Fort Calhoun 12, No. 6 DC West 4, 5 inn.
DCW (8-3) 3 1 0 0 0 — 4 4 1
FCHS (6-3) 1 2 0 4 5 — 12 15 2
