The Bulldog Softball Team Continues to Compete

As the Hampton-Dumont-CAL students finish up their school year the softball schedule continues to roll, the Bulldogs look to build on a 1-2 start to the season.  Coach Kelsey Enslin talked about the youth and athleticism the Bulldogs have, and how they will continue to grow into their varsity rolls as the season progresses.

The first matchup came with the AGWSR Cougars in Ackley.  The Bulldogs struck first in the fourth inning, scoring two runs.  The rest of the game would be back and forth with both teams scoring three runs in the seventh inning and tying at 6.  The Cougars ultimately earned the victory though, after scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth.  Malie Ott would pitch all eight innings for the Bulldogs, striking out 8 in total.  Teaghan Bird went 3-for-4 from the plate and stole a base.  Karli Hanson drove in two runs for the Bulldogs.

Wednesday was a conference game at Clarion.  The game would come down to the team that had more big innings and that turned out to be the Cowgirls, who would score three in the first inning and six in the fifth inning.  The Bulldogs had a big inning in the fourth scoring four, but it wasn't enough and the Cowgirls prevailed 10-6.  Ott pitched six innings and struck out eight.  Bird went 2-for-3 from the plate, scoring two runs and stealing three bases.  Swart and Rieken would each drive in a run for the Bulldogs.

Thursday saw the Collins-Maxwell Spartans come to town.  The Spartans came in ranked 6th in 1A softball and scored a run in each inning played, while the Bulldogs were only able to push one run across, and the Spartans came away with a 12-1 win in the sixth inning.  The Bulldogs pieced together pitching with Trinity Swart and Mallory Rieken up for the Bulldogs while Madison Lindaman drove in the lone run for the Bulldogs.

Friday was a conference game against the Algona Bulldogs, and Algona would start the game early, scoring a run in the top half of the first inning and not slowing down.  Algona eventually sailed to victory by going 14-0 in six innings.  Ott and Swart shared pitching duties, with Ott striking out eight, but giving up six earned runs.  Bird and Lindaman went 1-for-3 from the plate, while Swart went 1-for-1 with two walks.  The loss dropped the Bulldogs record to 1-6 and 0-3 in the NCC.  The Bulldogs will return to action with a full week of softball starting Monday against the Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets in Iowa Falls.  Tuesday they will travel to Osage before returning home to play the St. Edmonds Gaels on Wednesday.  Capping off the week will be a trip to Clear Lake to take on the Lions.