Last week was the busiest week of the season with the Kimball softball team playing five games. Four of the five games were very competitive, but the Kimball squad improved in offense, defense and pitching as the week continued. Holdingford husks the Cubs The Cubs played Holdingford Monday, April 26; the Huskers took the game, 6-5. Kimball pitcher Whitney Gettler was plagued by a porous defense that allowed six unearned Holdingford runs. The Cubs took a 5-4 lead into the sixth inning, but unearned runs in the sixth and seventh innings spelled defeat. The Cubs out-hit the Huskers 7-4, with Jami Weigelt leading the attack with three hits and Amelia Hentges with two RBIs. The Cubs left 12 runners on base which ultimately cost them the victory. Cubs lose to EV-W Eagles The Cubs’ Tuesday, April 27, game at Eden Valley-Watkins was the poorest game of the week. The Cubs couldn’t buy a hit and fell victim to a seven-run EV-W rally in the third inning. The Cubs managed only six baseruns which effectively limited the offense. Rockets leave Cubs in smoke After Wednesday’s practice in 92-degree heat, the Cubs regrouped Thursday, April 29, with a new lineup to start the second round of conference play. The Cubs played Rockford and, just as they did in their first meeting, the Cubs played well and forced the Rockets to earn a hard fought victory. Thursday was a hitter’s dream – Rockford got 13 hits from two Kimball pitchers, and the Cubs had 11 of their own. The Cubs took a 4-1 lead in the third when Angie Garding doubled to bring Jenna Stenger home. Then Garding and Weigelt scored ahead of Amelia Hentges, who parked the first over-the-fence home run in the field Kimball opened last season. The Cubs held the lead into the fifth, when the Rockets strung together six hits to score seven runs and take the lead for good. Weigelt was 4-4, Garding was 2-4, and Jessica Gully was 2-3. Kimball Invitational Saturday, May 1, was the Kimball Invitational with Royalton and MACCRAY. The Cubs faced Royalton in game one, and scored four runs in the first inning. Garding, Weigelt and Hentges had doubles, and Casey Williams had a two-RBI single. Kimball extended the lead to 6-2 in the second, when a hit by Gully drove Weigelt and Garding home. With two outs in the third, Royalton used two walks, an error, and two hits to tie the game at 6-6. Williams scored the 7-6 lead in the bottom of the inning. Whitney Gettler, Jenna Stenger, and Jen Schefers scored in the fifth, with the big hit being a two RBI double from Garding. The Cubs held the 10-6 lead for the remainder of the game. Garding was 3-4, Williams was 2-3, and Weigelt was 2-4. Weigelt also picked up the win on the mound with no earned runs, five SOs and three walks. Kimball faced MACCRAY (who beat Royalton 7-0) for the invitational championship. The Wolverines’ pitching was too much for the Cubs. They shut out Kimball to win the game and the tournament. Weigelt, Lemke and Amanda Schiefelbein tallied the only three Kimball hits. Whitney Gettler pitched a complete game and allowed one earned run, three SOs and no walks. Kari Mackereth highlighted the defense with two outstanding plays in the field. The Cubs have four games in the first week of May. They traveled to Holdingford for a rematch on Monday, May 3; play Maple Lake at home Tuesday, May 4; Pierz at home Thursday, May 6, and finish the week with a make-up game against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Friday, May 7.
