Hydro-Eakly slow pitch softball has started its season and competed in the Hobart Festival this week.
“When we get some consistent experience underneath our belt, we should be pretty good,” coach Hannah Guthrie said. “We only have had three practices since basketball season ended. We have had more games than practices, but we have some tough games ahead of us. We will have a practice Sunday and I am hoping the girls rested during Spring Break, since we have a game Monday and a tournament coming up.”
Apache 19, Hydro-Eakly 18
Kira Berkey recorded four singles and got on base in four of five at bats. She also scored three runs.
Tessa York recorded three RBI’s and went three of four in from the plate. Rees Berkey scored three runs and went three of four from the plate. Kenzie Rodriquez also scored three runs, recorded three RBI’s and hit a home run. Paisley Vickery went three of five from the plate. Jasmine Salais pinch ran for York and she scored three runs for the Lady Bobcats.
“If we hit the ball and out it in play, we should score runs,” Guthrie said. “We did this, but our defense was not great. However, these girls always are going to compete and give it their all.”
Hydro-Eakly 13, Leedey 0
Dillyn Coe and Lotti Parker each got on base in all three of their at bats and each scored three runs.
“Slow pitch softball is one of those games where you can hit the ball well and hit every gap,” Guthrie said. “Sometimes, you also hit the ball well, but it is right to a defender and they make the play for an out. Paisley did a great job of finding those gaps and getting bases in.”
Hydro-Eakly 7, Lookeba-Sickles 4
Hydro-Eakly struggled early, but they took the lead midway through the game and never looked back. The game ended on a foul out.
Slow pitch softball is different from fast pitch softball and one of the main changes is a runner is out if they hit a foul ball on strike two.
“We were not hitting the ball as well early,” Guthrie said. “We managed to find some gaps to score runners. We had some great strikeouts from Tessa. Tessa does a great job pitching and getting runners to foul balls off and getting outs.
Navajo 14, Hydro-Eakly 13
Rees Berkey and York each went three of three at the plate. Rees Berkey scored three runs and York recorded seven RBI’s and hit two home runs.
Kira Berkey went three of four at the plate, scored two runs and hit a home run. Rodriguez went two of four from the plate, scored two runs and two singles. Vickery went two of three from the plate, as she recorded a double and a single.
“We had some routine plays we did not make against a good Navajo team,” Guthrie said. “We dropped too many balls in front of us. Once we practice more and play more, those errors will eliminate themselves.”
Hydro-Eakly 6, Mangum 3
Much like the Lookeba-Sickles game, Hydro-Eakly struggled early to score, but they took the lead in bottom of the fifth and never looked back.
Parker went two of three from the plate and scored two runs, with a double and a single. Kira Berkey went two of four from the plate and recorded two RBI’s with two singles.
Sublett went one of two from the plate and recorded two RBI’s. Buss went one of two from the plate and scored two runs.
“This was a good game for us,” Guthrie said. “Being able to turn around from a loss against a good Navajo team says a lot. This shows great character from our girls and they are just trying to win.”