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PREP SOFTBALL: Minneota/Canby breaks out bats to earn doubleheader split with Dawson-Boyd

Photo by Sam Thiel Minneota/Canby’s Abby Hennen swings at a pitch during game two of their doubleheader against Dawson-Boyd on Wednesday.

MINNEOTA – It was a tale of two games between the Minneota/Canby and Dawson-Boyd softball teams on Wednesday afternoon at Minneota High School. The Blackjacks used a strong outing from starter Mary Bothun to take a tightly-contested game one 2-1, but the Vikings rebounded by breaking out the bats in game two to earn a doubleheader split with an 8-2 victory.

In the opener, the Blackjacks would get the scoring started with a run in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff single from Ashley Borstad, Mary Bothun got a double to put runners in scoring position with no outs. Kaia Jordahl then stepped up and connected on an RBI single to give Dawson-Boyd an early 1-0 lead.

Neither team would find scoring over the next couple of innings, as both teams starters settled into their respective zones. The Vikings would strike in the top of the fourth, as Emily Pohlen drew a leadoff walk before Sydney Larson reached on an error to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After a sacrifice by Madison Sorenson, Kaylee Johnson drew a walk to load the bases for Minneota/Canby. Audra Buysse reached on an infield single to bring in the Vikings’ first run of the game, tying it at 1-1 in the process.

Dawson-Boyd wasted little time in responding, however, getting a leadoff ground-rule double from Brittany Whitmore before Amelia Olson reached on an infield single and Borstad connected on an RBI single to give the Blackjacks the lead back at 2-1.

Neither team could add to their offensive efforts over the next few innings, as Minneota/Canby entered the top of the seventh with a one-run deficit. The Vikings would get a two-out rally going with back-to-back singles from Pohlen and Larson before Sorenson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But the Blackjacks and Bothun would shut down the late offense from Minneota/Canby by coaxing a groundout to end the game and earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Borstad led the way for Dawson-Boyd in game one, going 2 for 3 with an RBI while Bothun went 2 for 3 with and Spencer, Whitmore and Karoline Dahl each adding a hit.

Bothun earned the victory in the circle, going seven innings while allowing one run on seven hits and striking out 10.

Minneota was led by Friehl and Larson with two hits apiece while Pohlen added a 1 for 3 day at the plate with an RBI.

Nelson took the loss for the Vikings, going six innings while allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out five.

The nightcap saw the Vikings jump out to the fast start, with Minneota/Canby plating two quick runs in the bottom of the first. After Abby Hennen got things started by reaching on an error, Katie Friehl and Pohlen got back-to-back singles to score Hennen before Larson connected for a hit to make it 2-0.

The Blackjacks responded quickly, though, using a leadoff single from Breanna Long before Kelcee Spencer got a hit to go and Olson drew a walk to runners on the basepaths with two outs. Jenna Wyum then stepped up and delivered an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 2-1 in the process.

Minneota/Canby answered back in the bottom of the inning, with Katie Konold getting a leadoff single before Brooklyn Nelson reached on an error, scoring Konold to give the Vikings a 3-1 lead. Hennen then connected on an RBI double on the ensuing at bat to push its advantage to 4-1.

The Vikings continued to find offense in the fourth, as Nelson smacked a leadoff double before Hennen lined a single to right field before advancing to second on the throw. Friehl would bring in another run on a sacrifice before the Vikings pushed their lead to 6-1 thanks to a sacrifice fly from Pohlen.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Blackjacks pieced together a string of hits to cut the deficit to 6-2. Dawson-Boyd got a leadoff single from Borstad before Jordahl got a single to put runners on with two outs. Spencer then stepped up and connected on a double to bring in a run.

Looking to get some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Vikings found scoring thanks to a pair of extra-base hits. After Konold led off the frame with a double and Nelson advanced the runner on a sacrifice, Hennen smacked a deep line drive for another double to plate a run. After a second sacrifice from Friehl, Pohlen got a double to make it 8-2.

The Blackjacks looked to create a seventh-inning rally, but Dawson-Boyd couldn’t capitalize on a leadoff single from Wyum and Minneota/Canby earned the doubleheader split.

Minneota/Canby coach Heidi Boerboom said she was pleased with her team’s effort and they were able to do a lot of good things in both games in all aspects.

“Pretty much everything was working well. We had a couple of errors in the outfield in the entire game, which is an improvement for us,” Boerboom said. “Our catcher (Hennen) had a couple of nice throws and took out a few runners. And our pitchers are always doing a good job of minimizing walks and it’s okay to let them hit and let our defense play.”

Hennen led the way for the Vikings in game two with a 3 for 4 day at the plate with two RBI while Pohlen added two hits and two RBI.

Larson earned the victory for Minneota/Canby in the circle, going seven innings while allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out three.

Boerboom said both Nelson and Larson did a good job of throwing strikes and not getting out of control with their pitches.

“They were just throwing strikes and minimizing walks,” Boerboom said. “We don’t get too fancy with what we do, we’re just happy to throw strikes and they were doing that.”

Dawson-Boyd coach John Nevins said they’ve struggled to play in tight games this season so he was happy to see his team pull out a victory in the opener. In the second game, he said the early scoring of the Vikings set the tone for the game.

“We struggle to play 2-1 games; we make too many mistakes to win 2-1. But Wednesday we got by. They left a couple of runners on base and we probably should’ve scored more than two runs, but it was a good game,” Nevins said. “The second game they got off to the early lead and that seemed how the game was going to end up.”

Jordahl and Wyum led the way for Dawson-Boyd in game two with a pair of hits apiece while Spencer and Bothun each collected an RBI.

Borstad took the loss in the circle, going six innings while allowing eight runs on 10 hits and striking out one.

Nevins said both Bothun and Borstad have their own strengths when in the circle and both did a good job of utilizing those strengths during their outings.

“Well Mary throws harder and she gets more strikeouts. When she has that changeup, she’s tough to hit,” Nevins said. “And Ashley has really good control; she’s got to move that ball around and we need the defense to play defense. She’s a perfect person to play behind because you’re going to see some action in the game. Both did a nice job.”

Minneota/Canby (6-4) will face Lakeview on Friday at 4:30 p.m. while Dawson-Boyd (7-4) will face RTR today at 4:30 p.m.

Game 1

Dawson-Boyd 2, M/C 1

M/C 000 100 0 – 1 7 2

DB 100 100 x – 2 7 3

Hitting: M/C (Friehl 2-4; Pohlen 1-3; Larson 2-4; Sorensen 1-3; Rangaard 1-3); DB (Borstad 2-3, RBI; Bothun 2-3; Spencer 1-3; Dahl 1-3; Whitmore 1-3).

Pitching (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): M/C (Nelson 6-2-1-7-2-5); DB (Bothun 7-1-0-7-2-10).

Game 2

M/C 8, Dawson-Boyd 2

DB 010 001 0 – 2 7 4

M/C 220 202 x – 8 10 2

Hitting: M/C (Hennen 3-4, 2 RBI; Pohlen 2-4, 2 RBI; Friehl 1-4, RBI; Larson 1-4, RBI); DB (Jordahl 2-3; Wyum 2-3, RBI; Borstad 1-3).

Pitching (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): M/C (Larson 7-2-1-7-3-3); DB (Borstad 6-8-5-10-1-1).

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