Hart softball held scoreless in Division 3 regional semifinal loss to Kingsley

By Brendan Samuels
LocalSportsJournal.com

TRAVERSE CITY – A quick glance at the boxscore from Hart softball’s loss to Kingsley in the Division 3 regional semifinals on Saturday might make some question how the Pirates were shut out, 8-0.

Afterall, Hart recorded six hits to Kingsley’s seven and committed just two fielding errors to their opponent’s one. Ultimately, it came down to superior pitching for the Stags and early-game struggles for the Pirates in the pitching circle.

Hart seemed to have things rolling in the top of the first after Nora Chickering’s leadoff single. With one out, Kelsey Copenhaver earned a walk and Gabby Schmieding singled. Quickly, the Pirates had the bases loaded and a chance to strike first. The Pirates were unable to punch in a run.

Copenhaver started for Hart and did well against the top of the Stags’ order.

Once again, Hart’s bats were active in the second inning, but they failed to take advantage of baserunners. Ambrielle Duncan and Chickering notched singles, but neither scored.

Makenna Carrier attempts a bunt (Photo/Brendan Samuels)

Kingsley broke through in the bottom of the second inning. After a strikeout, three consecutive Stags were walked. With the bases loaded and two out, Copenhaver struggled to find the strike zone, walking another and hitting a batter with a pitch to bring in two runs.

Kingsley built on their lead in the third. Two walks and three base hits in the bottom of the third increased their lead to 5-0 in the blink of an eye. That would also spell the end of Copenhaver’s day as the Pirates turned to Gabby Quijas in relief.

Ambrielle Duncan slides into second base (Photo/Brendan Samuels)

“(Pitching) was our biggest concern this year,” Hart coach Dean DeVries said. “We lost Finley Kistler last year and she was big for us on the mound for four years. Kelsey is a sophomore and I have nothing but praise for her today. She went in there and battled.

“I went right to (Quijas) when things got to be a little bit too much because I know she’s going to pound the zone and keep the other team off balance.”

Quijas gained confidence as she retired the Stags after facing just four batters in the fourth inning. That allowed Hart the chance to gain momentum, and they had every chance to do so.

The top of the fifth inning started with Makenna Carrier earning a walk and then stealing second. Two batters later, Schmieding was on first thanks to a base on balls. Carrier eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch with Schmieding moving to second. The Pirates had two runners in scoring position. Again, Hart did not get a key hit to plate any runs.

The Stags scored three more in the bottom of the fifth and earned the shutout win.

“Our goal today was to come in and compete and not beat ourselves,” said DeVries. “I believe we accomplished that goal. We made plays that were given to us and we put the bat on the ball. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to come up with a big hit when we needed it.”

The Pirates finished at 15-16-1 and earned their third-straight district title. With a young team, DeVries is confident things are only looking up for Hart.

“Those nerves don’t get you as much when you’ve been here before,” DeVries said. “We started four freshmen and two sophomores today. You expect them to make some mistakes, but they made big plays out there. This environment as a young person is only going to help them.”