Glad to be back: Bulldogs play NCC foe in home opener

HAMPTON — Even though it wasn’t the outcome that neither Bulldog softball and baseball coaches Kelsey Enslin and Matt Lokenvitz wanted, both were thrilled to get that chance to play.

A belated and shortened 2020 summer season kicked off with the Bulldog softball team giving up six runs in the sixth inning in a 10-3 loss to the Lynx. The baseball team made some early errors in falling 4-0 to Webster City.

“It’s exciting to just be back at the field playing,” Enslin said “It’s a totally different feeling. The whole outfield is full of people and our stands are empty, but it is fun to be back together and we talked about the challenge of trying to get chemistry when you can’t do team things outside of (softball).

“Last year, we went to the Humane Society and walked dogs together, we can’t go do that this year. We have to figure out who we are as a team with so many new kids.”

Lokenvitz was simply happy to be able to see the kids interact with each other.

“Obviously, it’s great the kids are smiling, laughing, having a good time,” Lokenvitz said. “One of the biggest crowds I’ve had since I’ve been here in 10 years, so that’s good. You can tell that the community has missed getting out and socializing and seeing sports play.”

The Bulldog softball team jumped on the Lynx for two runs in the first inning behind a single by Calista Polk and a pair of doubles by Avery Hanson and Aspen Harlan. Webster City answered back to tie it with a pair of runs in the third with back-to-back singles to start the inning.

In fact, it was lead-off batters reaching base that was the Achilles’ Heel of the Bulldogs all night against the visitors.

“We actually track that: if we get the lead out and if we get our lead runner on,” Enslin said. “If you do well in those two categories, you win the game. That’s obviously something we need to sharpen up on going forward.”

The Bulldogs momentarily re-took the lead in the fifth after they loaded the bases with one out and gained an RBI sacrifice fly by Tara Krull. However, Hanson and the Bulldogs ran into trouble in the sixth with a bunt single and then a two-run homer by Kelly Stoakes that gave the Lynx the lead for good.

“We actually talked about as a team the middle of the game that is the hardest for us,” Enslin said. “Focusing on that and just the things we had been doing well, our infield looked pretty solid to start and then we had an error here and didn’t make a catch there, things like that. The beginning of their lineup is solid. Once we gave them a chance to capitalize on that, the game got a little out of hand.”

Besides that, a pair of walks and an error to start the seventh tacked on a pair of insurance runs even though the Bulldogs caught the lead runner at the plate for the first out and also gunned down another would-be run from the field.

“Almost half of our starters, we lost two seniors and then the Grover (sisters) decided not to come out, so losing four starters changes things a little bit,” Enslin said. “I’m really excited to see us go through those growing pains and figure out in the next 14-15 games to see who we are and figure out our identity and hopefully be solid by the end of the season.”

The baseball team was shut down by last year’s NCC pitcher of the year, Tyler Olson, who struck out 13 batters and yielded just two hits.

“Tough one, lose 4-0, go up against the pitcher of the year last year in the conference in the Olson kid, but we learned, we put the ball in play, we put guys on base,” Lokenvitz said. “I think their four runs came with us hurting ourselves. Walks and throwing the ball around a little bit.

“But, it’s good to be back. The kids are going to enjoy it. We saw improvement as the game went on, which is what you’re going to see with only two weeks of practice. Arms are going to be a little sore. The bats are going to be a little slow to catch up and do those things It’s good to be back.”

Freshman Brayden Johnson got the nod to start against the Lynx, giving up two first inning runs off of walks and a few errors.

“He (Johnson) had a rough first inning, gave up two right away, but those were the walks and then we had a passed ball that they scored and we threw over third base that they scored,” Lokenvitz said. “After that, he settled down and threw very, very well. Threw 70 pitches and threw well with doing that.

“Frank (Alejo) came in and pitched after that. Marco Guerrero, a freshman, DH’ed tonight, got his first high school official hit, good for him. Good to see that.”

Lokenvitz said that as the game progressed, his team improved.

“We started to get more comfortable, better hits,” Lokenvitz said. “He (Olson) is good: he throws 83 to 85, got a good curveball. It’s good to get that experience and we’ll move on from here.”

Both teams were right back in action Tuesday night at Janesville.

“We’re excited,” Enslin said of the chance to play again right away. “It’s almost easier to try to come back and fix things we need to work on and get back at it again.”

Lokenvitz added, “Four games this week: Janesville Tuesday, Clarion Wednesday and Central Springs on Thursday. We don’t have time to sulk and be sad for ourselves. We go back at it and win some games.

“We’re doing it for as long as we can.”

Softball

Webster City 10

Bulldogs 3

WC          002 006 2 - 10 7 2

H-D           200 010 0 -   3 6 3

Winning battery— Jenna Miller and NA. Losing battery— Avery Hanson and Aspen Harlan. Two or more hits— WC (Kelly Stoakes, Tatum Goings); H-D (Hanson 3, Calista Polk). 2B— WC (Stoakes, Lydia Cash); H-D (Hanson 2, Harlan). HR— WC (Stoakes); H-D, None. SB— WC (Miller); H-D (Polk, Hanson). RBI— WC (Stoakes 4, Taylor McKinney 2, Leah Cash); H-D (Hanson).