By Fred Kroner
fred@mahometnews.com
The return of junior high softball at Oakwood, after it was dropped more than a quarter of a century ago, is off to a successful start.
The Knights have a 2-2 season record following a victory on Monday (Aug. 31) at home against Bismarck-Henning 4-2.
Taylor Smoot, Karleigh Nelson and Sophia Hart all swatted two hits for Oakwood, which amassed nine hits in all.
“We played good defense and made no errors,” Oakwood coach Dave Markwell said. “I’m really pleased.”
Rylee Wright, Bella Bradford and Maddy Griffis each wound up with one hit for Oakwood.
Bradford and Wright combined for a five-hitter. Bradford picked up the pitching win, working five innings and recording six strikeouts. Wright worked the final two innings and fanned one.
On Thursday (Aug. 27), Oakwood lost a slugfest at Gifford, 13-10.
“It was back-and-forth for four innings and then the wheels fell off the wagon,” Markwell said.
Gifford snapped a 6-6 deadlock with a five-run outburst.
Erin Ware and Gracie Hanner each collected two hits for the Knights. Teammates with one hit apiece were Smoot, Wright and Samantha Dunnavon.
“I was impressed with how we hit the ball,” Markwell said. “We’re playing competitive with a lot of teams that have had seasons before.
“We have three that had never played any ball and we’re trying to mold a decent little team.”
Oakwood closed the gap in the seventh inning, plating four runs.
Mikayla Whaling and Wright shouldered the pitching load. Whaling worked 4 1/3 innings and Wright finished with a 1 2/3-inning stint.
On Monday (Aug. 24), suffered an 11-7 loss to Salt Fork in Catlin. The Knights held a 4-1 lead in the second inning.
Five squad members registered hits: Bradford, Nelson, Wright, Hart and Ware.
Bradford pitched all six innings, yielding six hits. She walked five and struck out two.
Oakwood returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 5) at Urbana.
