Above: Shortstop McKayla Janzen fields a grounder during the eighth-grade game.
While the seventh-grade softball team is undefeated, the eighth graders are still looking for their first victory.
The seventh-grade team won 6-1 over visiting Nicollet in three innings on Thursday, and the eighth graders came close last week with a 10-7 home loss to the Raiders on Thursday and a loss by just one run in Madelia two days earlier
But win or lose, players from teams are improving and enjoying themselves along the way.
“It is just a really fun group,” said Cassidy Kopet, who, along with McKenna Robb (CHS 2020), is coaching the junior high teams. “They come to practice with a lot of energy. They are always making me smile.”
The Raiders reached their run limit against the Clipper eighth graders in both the first and the second innings. With hits by Mollie Bowman, Isabel Duron, Sierra McCabe, McKayla Janzen and Melissa Miller, the Clippers reached their run limit in the first. They managed two runs in the second inning.
“It was fun to see them making contact,” said Kopet.
But the eighth-grade Clippers need to be prepared each play, Kopet said.
“We do need to work on being softball aware. Situational softball IQ. ‘If the ball comes to me, where am I going?’
Bowman was in the circle for the Clippers.
“Mollie did a really nice job tonight,” Kopet said.
Janzen, Duron and Sierra McCabe also pitch for the eighth-grade team
With the Clipper seventh graders trailing Nicollet 1-0, catcher Anna Lamont singled and scored in the second. Dacota Sichmiller, Janzen and Haddie Jobe followed with hits in the inning.
Kaitlyn Flowers, Delany Thompson, Lamont, Taylor Wolf and Sichmiller all had hits in the third to reach the five-run limit.
“I told them I was most proud of this win for this season because they had to persevere,” said Kopet, “They tied it up and then got their five runs to win. It wasn’t as easy as it usually is.”
Taylor McCabe had pitching duties against Nicollet. Other seventh grader pitchers are Delany Thompson, Wolf and Flowers. All are good with the bat, especially Flowers, who hit an over-the-fence grand slam a couple of weeks ago at Madelia.
The Clippers were back in action on Saturday with home games. The eighth graders had a rematch against Nicollet while the seventh graders took on Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.
On Monday, the junior high teams host TCU. They close out their season against Alden-Conger at home on Thursday.
The seventh and eighth-grade softball teams include, from L-R, front row: Isabel Duron, Madison Wollschlager, Dacota Sichmiller, Haddie Jobe, Taylor Wolf, Delaney Thompson, Lucy Tauer and Melissa Miller. Back row: Coach McKenna Robb, Mollie Bowman, Kaitlyn Flowers, Olivia Reinhardt, Anna Lamont, Emma Bluhm, Vanessa Wondra, McKayla Janzen and coach Cassidy Kopet. Missing are Taylor McCabe and Sierra McCabe. Reinhardt and Wollschlager didn’t participate last year, but coach Cassidy Kopet is glad to have them on the team as eighth graders.
Taylor McCabe pitched a seventh-grade win over Nicollet.
Madison Wollschlager reaches for a grounder during the eighth-grade game against Nicollet.
Mollie Bowman threw for the eighth graders against Nicollet.
Melissa Miller on the scoop against Nicollet in the eighth-grade game.