The Crookston Pirates softball team kept it close for most of the game, but a big inning from East Polk gave the North Stars a 15-5 victory in a game played in Erskine.
The Pirates grabbed the first lead of the game in the first inning. Kenze Epema and Amber Cymbaluk were hit by pitches, and Jenna Coauette came through with a one-out single to score Epema.
East Polk was able to get a big inning in the bottom of the first. An error allowed the first batter to reach, and the next batter doubled to bring in the runner and tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning, three consecutive doubles brought in a run each to give East Polk a 4-1 lead. “We gave them a big inning in the first, but we really played solid ball over the next three innings,” said Pirate Softball Head Coach Sunny Bowman.
The North Stars added a run in the second inning. A leadoff single reached third on the play because of an error. The runner came into score on a passed ball.
East Polk added two insurance runs in the third inning. A double, single, and hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs. A fielder’s choice brought in the first run, and with two outs, a single scored the second run to give the North Stars a 7-1 lead.
Crookston answered with two runs of their own in the fourth inning. Aleah Bienek reached on an error, and pitches hit Emilee Tate and Addie Fee to load the bases. Kenze Epema singled in the first run, and Amber Cymbaluk hit a line drive that resulted in an error to score another run to cut the lead to 7-3. “Our bats have been our strong suit all year,” said Coach Bowman.
Crookston was able to inch closer with a couple more runs in the fifth inning. Emma Boll and Emily Bowman singled to begin the inning. Aleah Bienek followed with her own single to score Boll. Two batters later, Addie Fee reached on an error to bring in another run. After the top of the fifth inning, the Pirates trailed by two, 7-5. “We’ve got some young talent on this team, and they are determined to keep getting better,” said Coach Bowman.
East Polk broke the game open in the bottom of the inning by putting up eight runs. With one out, an error put the first runner on, and a single scored the first run of the inning. A single and two errors scored four more runs to make it 12-5. Then, three consecutive run-scoring singles gave the North Stars a 15-5 lead and a run-rule victory. “It is a lack of focus, and part of that is inexperience, but we have to make plays,” explained Coach Bowman. “We are working with Jenna to just throw strikes… and when she’s doing that, you expect them to hit it, so our defense has to be ready.” Coach Bowman went on to credit Reese Swanson for her solid defense at third base, saying, “We have had some girls out, and Reese has stepped up. There were some absolute rockets hit at her, and if she didn’t make the play, she at least knocked it down and held them to a single.”
Crookston falls to 0-12 this season. They will host Ada-Borup/West on Wednesday.
East Polk improves to 5-4 this season. They will host West Marshall on Friday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| CROOKSTON | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 9 |
| East Polk | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 13 | 3 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Jenna Coauette- Crookston | 5.0 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Brynlea Mahlen- East Polk | 4.1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Olivia Rosendahl- East Polk | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
For CROOKSTON
Kenze Epema- 3 for 3, RBI, run
Emily Bowman- 2 for 2, run
For East Polk
Brynlea Mahlen- 2 for 3, double, 2 RBI
V. Johnson- 2 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Cali Burrak- 2 for 4, 2 doubles, RBI, 2 runs
Haley Sander- 2 for 4, double, RBI, run
