sports

PIRATE SOFTBALL FALLS TO THE NORTHERN FREEZE

April 18, 2024

The Crookston Pirate Softball team braved snow falling throughout the game and scored three runs to start the game, but nine errors were costly as the Northern Freeze won the game 13-6 in a game played in Newfolden.

First Inning-
Crookston had a great start to the game, with Dani Kresl drawing a walk. Emily Bowman reached on a fielder’s choice, and runners were at first and second with nobody out. The runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Reese Swanson followed with a line drive down the right field line and rolled past the right fielder allowing two runs to score as Swanson went into third base for a triple. Swanson scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.
Northern Freeze answered in the bottom of the inning as Jocelyn Lee reached on an error on the first baseman. Brooklyn Dahle also reached on an error and runners were at second and third with one out. Ada Pearson followed with a double to score two runs to get within a 3-2 deficit.

Second Inning-
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion. Northern Freeze started the inning with a hit batter before the next two batters were retired. Brynlee Reese walked, and a run scored on a wild pitch. Rylie Fredrickson reached on an error that allowed another run to score for a 4-3 lead. Jocelyn Lee singled to score two runs. Brooklyn Dahle singled to score a run, and Ada Pearson tripled to score another run for a 7-3 lead.

Third Inning-
The first two Crookston batters were retired before Madi Bruggeman reached on an error. The next batter was retired.
The Freeze led off the bottom of the inning with Katie Clark getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. After two strikeouts, Reece singled to score a run. Reese would later score on an error. Fredrickson reached on an error, and Lee reached on another error that let another run score for a 10-3 lead.

Fourth Inning-
Crookston’s Kambelle Freije singled before the next three batters were retired. Northern Freeze’s Pearson led off the bottom of the inning with a walk before she was retired at second base on a fielder’s choice. The next batter hit a ground ball to the Pirate third baseman Freije, who threw the ball to Bruggeman at second for an out. Bruggeman turned and fired the ball to first base, and Dani Kresl made the grab for a 5-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.

Fifth Inning-
Crookston’s first two batters were retired before Emily Bowman singled, but the next batter was retired. The first two Freeze batters were retired before Reese singled. The next batter was retired.

Sixth Inning-
Crookston tried to get a late-game rally going in the sixth inning when Swanson reached on an error. After the next two batters were retired, Rilynn Aubol singled to score a run. Cassie Solheim followed with a single to score a run. Solheim stole second and third base before coming in to score on a wild pitch, and the Pirates trailed 10-6.
The Freeze took any idea of a comeback out of Crookston’s plans as they scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Lee, Dahl, and Pearson all reached on Crookston errors. One run scored before Augustine walked, and Clark hit into a fielder’s choice to knock in another run. One more run scored on a wild pitch, and the Freeze led 13-6.

Seventh Inning-
Bruggeman got things started for Crookston with a single and advanced to second and third base on two separate wild pitches. The next three batters were retired, and Northern Freeze won the game 13-6.

Crookston drops to 0-2 on the year and will travel to the Badger/Greenbush-Middle River tournament on Saturday, where the first game will be against Blackduck at 11:30 a.m. The Northern Freeze improves to 2-1 on the year.

CLICK HERE to listen to Coach Sunny Bowman’s comments.