LocalSports Journal.com
HART — Hart’s girls softball team divided a West Michigan Conference doubleheader with visiting Whitehall, winning the opener 5-3 but dropping the nightcap 6-0 at home Thursday.
As far as anyone can determine, the Pirates’ opening game win marked the first time a Hart softball team has defeated Whitehall in softball.
Finley Kistler was in the circle for the Pirates, giving up 11 hits while striking out seven in collecting the historic victory.
Gabby Quijas and Morgan Marvin were credited with outstanding defensive plays with superb catches in the field to stall off potentially big innings by the Vikings.
Leading the Pirates at the plate were Gabby Schmieding who had two hits, while Marvin had a solo home run.
Abby Hicks, Kelsey Copenhaver, Quijas and Audry Swihart each had one hit for the Pirates. Skylar Smith drew three walks to get on base.
The Vikings led 1-0 with a first inning run, and then added another single run in the third to make it 2-0.
Hart responded with a run in the fifth, and then plated two in each of the next two innings. The Pirates had seven hits and two errors, while the Vikings had 11 hits and four errors.
Megan Leatrea took the loss in the circle for the Vikings, giving up the five runs on six hits over seven innings with nine strike outs.
Whitehall collected nine hits with Leatrea, Illeana Hatcher and Darke all with multiple hits. Leatrea was the big hitter, going 3-for-4.
Leatrea was in the circle again for the Vikings in game two, and benefited when the Vikings scored four runs in the seventh inning to add some insurance. She allowed six hits and struck out four.
Alexis Taylor, Lucy Tucker and Hailey Carnes each had a RBI in the seventh inning. Carnes finished the game 3-for-4. Tucker and Taylor Ottinger also had multiple hits.
The Pirates struggled to produce the key hits with runners in scoring position, betraying a solid pitching performance from Quijas.
Quijas threw a strong five innings, giving up just one run and scattering five hits.
Marvin paced the offense with three hits and a walk to be on base four times in the game. Quijas finished with two hits, while Copenhaver and Mariana VanAgtmael each had a single.
