2021 NRHEG Softball team, back row, from left: Coach Wendy Schultz, Grace Tufte, Hallie Schultz, Preslie Nielsen, Bree Ihrke, Ava Kyllo, Brenna Sommer, Brenlee Knudson, Madison Johannsen, Kylie Doyle, and assistant coach Nate Jensen. Front row, from left: Faith Nielsen, Sidney Schultz, Anna Jacobson, Cloie Arndt, Haley VanWinkle, Sophie Stork, Anna Peterson, and manager Carla Doyle.
They say that all good things must end. Last Tuesday saw the unfortunate end to an incredible season by the NRHEG softball team.
Last week was full of highs and lows for the Panthers, but ultimately ended in heartbreak.
The Panthers rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat LCWM 6-4 Tuesday, June 8 at Caswell Park in Mankato. They went on to fall 1-0 to Belle Plaine in a game uncharacteristically defined by missed chances.
"I am so proud of the girls and how hard they fought through the entire tournament and, for that matter, for the entire season," said coach Wendy Schultz, whose team finished 22-4 overall and 12-2 in the Gopher Conference.
Schultz said one word comes to mind that describes the 2021 Panthers: pretty.
"Because of their hard work, we enjoyed a successful season," she said. "We are going to miss our three seniors. They put in countless hours in the off-season to improve their softball skills and did so much for our softball program."
According to Schultz, almost everybody did something in the Panthers' victory over LCWM.
"It was a total team win!" said the coach.
The most exciting inning was the sixth, when the Panthers scored four times to take the lead. Cloie Arndt started it with an over-the-fence home run, her fifth of the season. After a walk to Grace Tufte, Brenlee Knudson and Anna Jacobson came through with singles. With two on and two outs, Sidney Schultz cleared the bases and won the game for NRHEG with a triple.
Bree Ihrke had the defensive play of the game, making a great catch in right field and following with a perfect throw at home to get the runner out.
"Cloie did a nice job holding onto the ball in a tag situation," said Coach Schultz, who also praised the play of junior pitcher Sophie Stork. She struck out 10 and walked one.
Knudson finished 2-3 with two RBIs, Sidney Schultz was 2-4 with two RBIs. Arndt, Jacobson, Stork, Tufte, Ihrke and Faith Neilsen had one hit each.
The win kept the Panthers alive in the double-elimination tournament, though a tough Belle Plaine team awaited. Sidney Schultz had the Panthers' two hits, one of them a triple. Stork did not allow an earned run on three hits, with eight strikeouts and no walks.
"This was a pretty even matchup," said Coach Schultz. "We had a runner in scoring position a couple times, but couldn't quite get them in. Sophie pitched another great game after pitching well against LCWM."
Coach Stork said several thank yous are in order.
"Thank you to the girls, and their supportive parents," she said. "A good work ethic starts at home. Another big thanks to athletic director Dan Stork and the entire coaching staff."
And, with only three seniors graduating, the future looks bright.
"We have lots of committed girls," said Coach Schultz. "We have 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U teams playing this summer."