Wrong number: Warhawks drop home opener to Northwood-Kensett

SHEFFIELD – In a bizarre twist during the sixth inning of West Fork softball team’s home opener against Northwood-Kensett had starting catcher Kylie Laudner out of the game in an eventual 9-4 loss to the Vikings on Friday, June 19.

Laudner had just batted and the N-K staff pointed out that her number in the scorebook didn’t match the number on her jersey.

Warhawk co-coach Mary Schulz explained that Laudner is the only player on the roster who has different home and away jerseys and, after playing three road games to start the season, unintentionally put her away number down for their first home game.

“Silly mistake, everyone does it,” Schulz said. “Even Frank Schnoes, veteran (basketball) coach, has gotten a technical foul for writing down wrong home and away numbers in the scorebook.”

Co-coach Sadie Winfrey added, “It’s our fault, we take full responsibility.”

What wasn’t done right is that Laudner was completely ejected from the game. The penalty for playing with the wrong number is just a coaches’ warning, change of number and play continues, according to Schulz later.

Nevertheless, N-K won the game in the field, combining for 10 hits, nine off of starter Rachael Hubka, who left the game in the seventh visibly upset after she issued her seventh walk of the game.

“There is a lot going in the world,” Schulz explained, “and it’s her senior year.”

Winfrey added, “And, she’s not playing, pitching, the way she expects herself to.”

West Fork didn’t lack for offense, though, with seven hits off of the Vikings’ Kayla Senne, including a solo home run by Makenzie Fessler, who was 2-for-3, also a double, with two RBI. She drove in Sadie Latham in the third. 

“Makenzie Fessler is really starting to hit the ball, make really good contact,” Schulz said. “She is starting to take off.”

The Warhawks started a delayed opening week 1-2 with a busy week on their plate, including four games in four days.

Northwood-Kensett 9

West Fork 4

N-K           231 100 2 -   9   10   x

W. Fork     003 001 0 -   4   7     x

Winning battery— Kayla Senne and Alexis Halbach. Losing battery— Rachael Hubka and Kylie Laudner. Two or more hits— N-K (Peyton Pangburn 3, Jaela Parks, Senne); WF (Makenzie Fessler). 2B— N-K (Parks, Senne); WF (Fessler). HR — WF (Fessler). SB— WF (R. Hubka). RBI— N-K (Pangburn 5, Parks 2, Halbach 2); WF (Fessler 2, R. Hubka).