Royals softball team splits doubleheader vs. Bottineau, winning 10-2 and losing 16-6

Article by Chuck Wickenhofer, Devils Lake Journal, April 13th, 2016

In a doubleheader in which neither game went the full seven innings, the LRSC Royals softball team split a wild two games, winning the first game 10-2 in five innings while losing the second game 16-6 in six innings.

The Royals found them- selves in trouble from the top of the first, as Bottineau loaded the bases. However, the Jacks were not able to capitalize, while the Royals pushed a run across in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 1-0.

The game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the third when the Royals poured it on. A four run inning gave them a four run cushion over the Jacks, and the game was called due to the eight run rule after five innings, 10-2. Pitcher Mackenzie Sansom held Bottineau scoreless after the third inning.

Despite the win, head coach Kory Boehmer believes the team got off to a slow start.

"We started out just a little bit complacent. We were hitting the ball hard, but on defense I don't think we really focused on what we needed to do," Boehmer said.

Boehmer also noted that a string of games postponed due to weather also may have affected the Royals performance.

"It's tough to play in the cold weather. It's tough to play after you haven't played (for awhile)," Boehmer said. "We were supposed to play four games over the weekend. We didn't play them, so now we're going to be playing a bunch in the stretch. We'll se how we react."

First baseman Jaimie Shaw went three for three with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a solo homer. Left fielder Hanna Gary also homered while going two for three with two RBIs and two runs scored, while right fielder Alaina McKinnon had a solo homer and also went two for three.

The second game was a wild affair that saw Bottineau score three runs in the first inning, which were answered in the bottom of the the first on a solo homer by right fielder Emma Gary to make it 3-1.

There was a scary moment in the top of the second, as a Jacks drive to the fence was fielded by centerfielder Haunani Morton, who fired it into second in time to beat the runner to the base. However, shortstop Cheyenne Gurley dis- located her elbow while making the tag on the bang-bang play.

"She's a good player, she's hard-nosed," Boehmer said. "She'll probably be out a couple of games."

Bottineau took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the third when the Royals put up a four- spot in the inning to take a 6-4 lead. However, the two run advantage wouldn't last long, as the Jacks put up five runs in the top of the fourth.

"We didn't execute. We had a lot of opportunities to get out of innings, (but we) didn't make plays," Boehmer said.

The Royals were unable to get on the board again after the third inning, while Bottineau put up another seven runs, including five runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away, 16-6. The Royals had three errors in the game, which gave the Jacks a lot of extra outs.

"When you give a team mul- tiple chances, they get on a roll like that, that's what happens," Boehmer said. "When you don't execute, don't finish plays, you can get rolled."

Emma Gary went two for three with a homer and two runs scored, while Mackenzie Sansom went two for four with two RBIs.

The Royals travel to Bottineau Wednesday night for another doubleheader against the Jacks.