MTZ softball starts season 2-1

By BLAKE FAITH
Staff Writer

The Mt. Zion softball team went 2-1 last weekend in the Casey-Westerfield Tournament. Dakota Harrison compiled six hits and four RBIs and threw 11 total innings with 11 strikeouts.

Against Champaign Central, Harrison threw three innings and had three strikeouts and secured one RBI. Lauren Waller was 2-for-2 at the plate including a double and another hit. Sierra Hiser went 1-for-2 at the plate which included a triple for an RBI. Gwen Bender went 3-for-3 at the plate with three hits. The Braves defeated Champaign Central 11-0.

Against Oakwood, the Braves compiled 17 runs, 15 hits and 13 RBIs. Harrison led the Braves going 3-for-3 at the plate and racked up three RBIs. Anna Cox slammed a solo home-run. Kayla Schnippel went 1-for-2 at the plate that was a double for two RBIs. Schnippel also pitched three innings with two strikeouts. The Braves defeated Oakwood 17-2.

In their lone loss against Casey-Westerfield the Braves sent out Harrison who threw eight strikeouts in 10 innings. Casey-Westerfield compiled 17 hits and won 7-6. Schnippel hit two doubles and had four RBIs at the plate. Harrison recorded three hits and one RBI.

“I loved our energy throughout the day,” Head coach Greg Blakey said. “ It was bitter cold, there could have been a lot of built in excuses all day. Our kids went out and hit very well in all three games, our pitching was great all day and the pitchers went out and competed hard every inning. Defensively we played well. Lost a tough one to Casey. I loved the way we competed in all three games.”

This week the Braves will face Windsor-Stewardson, Metamora, Williamsville and MacArthur.