Softball falls to Royalton in season opener

By Brenda Erdahl

Sports Editor

The Irish softball team got off to a strong, 5-run start but couldn’t maintain the lead and fell 6-9 to Royalton on the Royals home field, Thursday, April 11 in Maple Lake’s season opener.

Ella Peterson put the Irish on the score board in the top of the first inning thanks to a Tessa Pribyl single. Ashley Gaffaney scored on a passed ball and then Charley Sailer tripled on a fly ball to right field to score Pribyl, Taylor Walhowe and Kass Fynboh giving the Irish a five-run lead.

Royalton scored on an error in the bottom of the same inning, but it was a strong fifth inning that really hurt the Irish. The Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth. Maple Lake could only get one more run in after it’s break-out first inning.

Sailor had three hits and three RBIs in the loss. Peterson, Pribyl, Gaffaney, Abby Gindele, Fynboh and Walhowe all scored runs.

Walhowe pitched all six innings for the Irish. She gave up three hits, nine runs and struck out three.

On Monday, April 15 the Irish traveled to Holdingford where they fell 10-0.

The Huskers made quick work of the Irish with eight runs in the second inning, followed by two more in the third. They played until the top of the fifth.

Danica Hageman had two hits for the Irish and Pribyl had one.

Walhowe pitched four innings for the Maple Lake team. She allowed 13 hits, 10 runs and struck out three.

Up next

On Thursday, April 18 the Irish go to Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa for a 4 p.m. game and on Tuesday, April 23 they host Kimball at 4:30 p.m.