Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Brianna Laabs throws to first during Tuesday’s game against West De Pere in Shawano. Shawano lost, 9-3.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School shortstop Saige Henning catches a pop fly during Tuesday’s game against West De Pere in Shawano. Shawano lost, 9-3.
Falling behind 7-2 in the first two innings, the Shawano Community High School softball team went on to lose 9-3 Tuesday to Bay Conference foe West De Pere at Martzke Sports Park in Shawano.
Shawano (5-7, 4-4 Bay) gave up five runs to start the game. After the Hawks trimmed the lead to 5-2, West De Pere (9-3, 8-1) scored again in the top of the second.
“The first five batters scored,” Shawano coach Kevin Isaacson said. “It’s tough to fight back from that. I thought the kids did a great job.”
Courtney Baumann, a senior pitcher, came in for relief of freshman thrower Hannah Hein in the second inning and managed to settle things down. She struck out six and walked none while holding West De Pere to three more runs the rest of the way.
“I thought it was an exceptional pitching performance,” Isaacson said. “We were really hoping to get some innings out of other folks, because we’re playing a whole lot of games in a short amount of time.”
Hein allowed six runs on six hits, struck out one and walked one in 1 1-3 innings to start the game for Shawano.
“We have a lot of underclassmen that have a lot of potential,” Isaacson said. “I think we played three freshmen and four or five sophomores today.”
Freshman Sarah Petry almost sparked a rally in the fifth inning with a lead-off single that was followed by a Courtney Ainsworth single. The inning fizzled, though, when Allison Raddant lined out to West De Pere third baseman Tiana Danforth, and the Phantoms caught Petry at second base for the double play.
Shawano didn’t lack for hits on West De Pere pitcher Amber Van Duyse. Courtney Ainsworth and Nicole Ainsworth each had a pair of hits, including a double for each. Raddant and LaRissa O’Kimosh each singled twice. O’Kimosh and Nicole Ainsworth each had an RBI.
“I thought we hit Van Duyse very well,” Isaacson said. “That’s one of the best pitchers in the state in Division 2, in my opinion. Throws 60 mph, moves the ball. I was thrilled with the way we hit the ball.”
Nicole Ainsworth’s double in the first inning scored Raddant, who singled to get on base. O’Kimosh then brought Raddant home on a single. O’Kimosh scored on a Baumann at-bat in the fourth inning.
Van Duyse went the distance. She struck out two, walked none. Danforth led the Phantoms at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Jennifer Timm had a double and a triple and two RBIs.
West De Pere got two rundowns of Shawano base runners in the game.
“We need to be a little more focused on the bases, but I like the way we played on offense,” Isaacson said.