KINGMAN — In their triangular competition against Kingman and Nickerson April 22, the Ellsworth softball team took one win and one loss. In a run-rule, the team was beaten by the Kingman Eagles 17-2, but then turned around and run-ruled the Nickerson Panthers 16-1.

Starting out the game against Kingman, the Cats had a powerful opening inning. Senior Peyton Coonrod laid down a bunt and outran the throw to first to put up the first single of the game. After senior Isabelle Lindsley knocked a double past shortstop, both runners found their way to home plate.

Senior Emma Moore pitched a strong first inning, throwing out a batter for the first out. Working on her pitching skills day-in and dayout, Moore has led the team to great success.

“I work on my pitching skills by continuing to learn new drives to increase speed, accuracy, strength…” she said. “...Then, of course, following through with the drills and continuing to practice often.”

However, the Eagles were quickly able to find gaps in the Bearcats’ defense. With two doubles to start their at-bat, along with a couple of additional base runners to move them around, Kingman was able to tie up the score to end the first inning 2-2.

After the first two batters for the Cats struck out and popped up the ball to the infield, Helm of Kingman struck another Bearcat out to send Ellsworth back to the field.

The first up for the Eagles knocked a double over first base. When the next batter tried to bunt to move her around the bases, she popped up her bunt and sophomore Kelli Rodriguez picked up the out.

However, it was then that Kingman went on a rally. The Eagles began to time up Moore at the plate, finding gaps and hitting singles and doubles to continue to move around the bases. The Cats struggled to make stops when they needed the outs to get out of the inning. By the time the second inning ended, Kingman led 17-2.

The Bearcats had one more chance to close the score gap. However, the first three batters were thrown out, which ended the game with a Kingman victory in a third inning run-rule 17-2.

The team struggled to get anything going their way against Kingman. Reflecting on the obstacles faced against Kingman, the Cats knew what they needed to do to succeed against Nickerson.

“We faced a serious challenge with our defense against Kingman,” Moore said. “We were unable to get a good read on the balls hit at us as well as struggling at the plate. After Kingman, we made some adjustments and came out with more energy and strength. Playing against Nickerson, we had fun and came out with a win.”

“The biggest challenge against Kingman, I think, was batting,” senior Madalyn Dobrinski said. “Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, and once we do bad batting one time, we cannot get it out of our head. However, when we played against Nickerson we let go of our mistakes and just had fun, and as a whole, we all played at a whole new level.”

Second baseman Dobrinski transferred from Sylvan Grove this year. Coming from a smaller school provided a major change for her.

“It has been a hard transition going from a small 1A school to the size of Ellsworth as a senior,” she said. “The biggest transition with softball has been learning what the coaches like and dislike.

After three years with one coach, you have to be willing to pivot and make necessary changes because every coach likes something different.

“The girls have been great and have made me feel very welcomed, especially with my shoulder issues.”

To start the Nickerson game, Rodriguez was at the mound. The Panthers loaded up the bases, but the Cats stopped them from scoring a run. Moore made a stop at third base and touched the base for the third out.

As the leadoff batter, Moore laid down a bunt and outran the throw for a single. After Coonrod popped up in the infield, Lindsley hit a grounder to the shortstop. While she was thrown out at first, she moved Moore to a scoring position. However, the Cats were unable to score in the first inning, making the score 0-0.

After earning three outs in the field, including a tag out on a steal home, the Cats returned to the batter’s box. The team once again was unable to make any runs, ending the second inning 0-0.

After getting three-up-threedown on defense, the Bearcats finally reached their rhythm on offense. After freshman Reygan Coonrod was walked to become the first base runner, she was moved around the bases to put the Cats’ first point on the scoreboard. With singles and doubles to move each other, Ellsworth quickly expanded their lead. By the end of the third inning, they led 14-0.

When Nickerson scored only one run in the fourth inning, Peyton Coonrod and Lindsley hit singles to get on base. Senior Makenna Haas sealed the victory with a triple to right field. She batted in the two base runners to end the game in a run-rule 16-1.

The team will travel to Plainville for their next doubleheader May 2.