New Richmond softball earns first win, downing Durand

• Kelsey Gilkison

New Richmond senior Kelsey Gilkison is greeted at home plate by her joyous teammates following Gilkison’s two-run homer at Hudson last Friday.

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With more experience in the lineup this season, the New Richmond softball team is looking to be more of a factor in the Middle Border Conference race.

The Tigers earned the first win of the 2012 season last Tuesday, winning an offensive slugfest at Durand 8-7.

The Tigers continued their promising offensive output on Thursday, losing to Prescott 10-6.

On Friday the Tigers played a non-conference game at Hudson. Hudson showed it will be strong again, beating the Tigers 13-4.

The win at Durand was scoreless through the first three innings, but the offenses took over from there. New Richmond struck first, with four runs in the fourth inning. The Tigers had their first sustained offense of the season, putting together five hits in the inning to produce the four runs.

In the fifth inning the Tigers tacked on two more runs, with the rally started by a triple by junior Jordan Pastorius.

Durand answered with a rally of its own, scoring five times in the fifth inning. The Tigers put across two more runs in the sixth. Ellie Emerson led off the inning with a walk and Pastorius delivered her third hit of the game, a double.

Durand came back with two runs in the sixth to cut the margin to one run. Tiger senior pitcher Jordan Langer finished with a flourish, putting down the Panthers 1-2-3 in the seventh inning.

The Tigers pounded out 14 hits in the win. Pastorius and freshman Ebony Campbell each produce three hits. Paige Charland and Sydney Kannel had two hits each.

Tiger coach Becky Ahlbrecht said the team has more experience this season and it’s showing in the Tigers’ discipline at the plate.

“They do recognize the strike zone pretty well. It’s a pretty strong lineup. I’m very confident in it,” Ahlbrecht said.

The Tigers put up another double-digit hit effort against Prescott on Thursday. The Tigers finished with 12 hits, but they couldn’t match the 17 hits and 10 runs scored by Prescott.

Prescott beat the Tigers with big innings. The Tigers scored in five of the seven innings. Prescott took charge by scoring six times in the fourth inning. The Cards pounded the ball, with six hits in the inning, three of them being doubles.

Ahlbrecht said a concern for the team is the big innings the team is giving up in the middle of games.

Ahlbrecht said the expectations for Langer are higher this season as the Tiger pitcher plays her senior season. Ahlbrecht said that Langer has the experience and durability to finish most of her starts. Because of an elbow injury, Pastorius won’t be used as the Tigers’ second pitcher this season. Kannel, a sophomore, will be the team’s second pitcher.

The coaches wanted to get Kannel some pitching experience, so she started Friday’s game at Hudson. She worked two uneventful innings to start the game, but the Raiders began to time her pitches in the third inning. The Raiders rallied for eight runs in the inning. Langer pitched the final four innings of the game.

The offensive highlight of the game was a two-run homer slugged by senior Kelsey Gilkison in the third inning. Her drive over the centerfield fence gave the Tigers a brief 3-1 lead.

The Tigers resume their schedule this Thursday with a home game against Ellsworth. The Tigers face their second game against defending MBC champion Baldwin-Woodville next Monday, when they play on the Blackhawks’ home field. The Tigers return home next Tuesday for a game against Amery.

Tags: sports, tigers, softball, prep