MACA softball takes command vs. NL-Spicer, Melrose

What could be better in fast-pitch softball than to have a polished pitcher who is a freshman? MACA softball is so blessed. The overall talent on the roster looks awfully solid again this year.  Coach Mary Holmberg's Tigers dominated the New London-Spicer Wildcats on Friday, score of 10-0. And freshman pitcher Haley Kill certainly carried the workload in the pitching circle. Freshman righty Kill pitched a one-hitter, fanning six Wildcat batters along the way. She walked just one in her five innings. Her shutout was her second this season. Addi Nelson got the only hit off her: a single in the fifth.

 

Note: I am going with "Haley" as the correct spelling for softball Tiger Haley Kill, and "Hailey" as correct for the MACA track and field athlete Hailey Werk. Though I've seen some inconsistencies in other media, I am going with these spellings at present. Anyone is free to correct me. - BW

 

MACA pushed its record up to 8-1. Fans have had to wait quite a bit for the 2023 spring to hit its stride. Weather has been largely uncooperative. Are we in the groove for steady action now? We'll see. 

The Tigers gained a 2-0 lead over NL-Spicer in the first inning. Then came five runs in the third. Three insurance runs got tacked on in the fourth, all while Kill showed mastery in pitching. 

Five different Tigers each had one hit. It's great to be typing Cate Kehoe's name again. She has been sidelined with injury for much of the school year. Her bat resonated with a hit in the Friday success. She was one-for-three. Amaya Raths had a hit in her only at-bat. MacKenzie Anderson put up one-for-two numbers. Kill had a hit in her three at-bats, as did Nora Boyle. 

Addi Nelson took the pitching loss for NL-Spicer. Emily Ruter also pitched in the losing cause for them. This was a non-conference game for the Tigers.

Tigers vs. Melrose

The MACA train kept going down the tracks in the doubleheader against Melrose. In all, our bats made noise to the tune of 24 hits on the day. Action was at the home field. MACA softball shone with a sweep of the Dutchmen. Scores were 9-3 and 8-3. 

In the game 1 triumph, Brianna Marty rapped two hits and drove in three runs. She crossed home plate twice. Our offense rolled forward with run-scoring in each of the first four innings. Haley Kill's bat produced two hits. The pitching department had Nora Boyle going the whole way. She gave up two earned runs. 

On to the game 2 success: And here it was Kenzie Anderson performing like a superstar with four hits in four at-bats. She drove in three runs in the 8-3 MACA win. Brianna Marty was sharp with her three-for-four boxscore line with all three of her hits for extra bases: two doubles and a triple. She drove in a run. Fans could applaud Amaya Raths who contributed two hits to the cause. 

Haley Kill came to the fore in the pitching department. She worked the whole way. 

Melrose is doing decent and had a record above .500 coming out of the day.

Track and field at NL-Spicer

Our team placings did not look real impressive from the track meet hosted by New London-Spicer. But the orange and black had individuals who made impact. On a team basis, the MACA boys were eighth and the girls ninth. Never mind. Let's look at how various individuals impressed. 

Starting with the boys: Blake Bruns was second in the 400 meters. Mitch Moser was third in the shot put. Grayson Gibson was No. 4 in the pole vault and fifth in the 300m hurdles. Noah Malek got over the bar to place third in the pole vault. The 4x200m relay unit of Bruns, Malek, Matt Gomer and Derek Waldbeser was No. 5. 

For the MACA girls, Hailey Werk was runner-up in the 3200m. Lydia Fynboh was No. 4 in the 100 meters.

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com