PR softball team keeps improving
Brodie Hansen stands in batter's box during a home doubleheader against Timberlake in 2021
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
KELLOGG — The Priest River softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader against 3A Intermountain League foe Kellogg, 13-2, 20-15 on Wednesday.
“We improved, that’s all I can ask for,” Priest River softball coach Ron Kruse said. “We just made too many defensive errors.”
Kruse also noted that the outfield improved in its game against the Wildcats, even with some new faces.
“We caught every ball,” Kruse said. “In past games, we weren’t catching every ball. All the girls out there made impressive catches.”
In game two, Kellogg jumped ahead 13-2 by the end of the second inning.
Priest River scored three runs in the top of the third to cut the Wildcats lead, 13-5.
After a walk brought Brodie Hansen home, Ona Rose scored on a wild pitch to make the score 13-4.
With the bases loaded, Unity Halcomb scored on another Allisun Hinkelmann wild pitch to make the score 13-5.
Kellogg quickly answered with a three-run inning of its own to extend its lead to 16-5.
Priest River went on a three-inning stretch where it brought home three runners. By the top of the sixth, Kellogg was holding on to a 20-14 lead.
Addison Kingery got the spurt started during the top of the sixth inning, scoring from third after Kailee Davis grounded out. Making the score 20-12.
Faith Taylor hit an RBI single that brought home Maddie Rose to make the score 20-13.
Finally, Cheyenne Thompson scored on a wild pitch to make the score 20-14.
In the bottom of the seventh, Ona Rose grounded out for the first out of the inning.
Jaylein Zylstra was hit by a pitch to get on base. During the next at bat, Zylstra was forced out at second.
Macy Jerome hit her second batter of the inning. Maddie Rose, to put runners on first and second.
Thompson went on to hit an RBI single that scored Rose, making the score 20-15.
Jerome cleaned it up on the final batter, Helena White, striking her out swinging for the final margin.
In the first game, Kellogg jumped out to a 2-0 lead following the first inning.
It added seven runs in the second and third innings to make the score 7-2.
The Wildcats added four runs in the bottom of the fifth to force the 10-run rule.
Lilly Freitas had another solid day on the mound in game one and at the plate. She went 3-for-3, all singles and allowed three hits and struck out four on the mound.
“She also ran the bases really well,” Kruse said. “She had a few too many walks, but it wouldn’t have hurt us if our errors weren’t so untimely.”
Priest River falls to 1-11 overall and will next play Troy High School in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. today at Troy High School.
GAME ONE
Priest River 011 00 — 2 6 4
Kellogg 216 4x — 13 3 2
Lilly Freitas and Ona Rose. Macy Jerome and Brelle Hei.
HITS: PR — Freitas 3, Hansen, M. Rose, Kingery. KEL — Williams, Hinkelmann, Jerome. 2B — Hansen.
GAME TWO
Priest River 203 333 1 — 15 4 5
Kellogg 493 040 x — 20 10 2
Jaylein Zylstra and Brodie Hansen. Allisun Hinkelmann, Macy Jerome (6), and Brelle Hei.
HITS: PR — Freitas, Rose, Thompson, Taylor. KELL — Hei, Jerome 3, Sawyer, McDaniel 3, Card, Karst. 2B — Freitas, Sawyer, McDaniel. 3B — Jerome, McDaniel. HR — Karst.