Cyclones advance to next round of playoffs

Wednesday night, the HCHS varsity softball team took on the OABCIG Falcons in their first playoff game of the season and beat them via the mercy rule, 11-1 in five innings. Junior Jenna Gessert got the ball for the Cyclones and struck out one batter, while allowing one run on five hits.

“Jenna threw a nice game last night,” said HCHS Head Softball Coach Toshia Kasperbauer. “It is always easier to relax on the mound when you have runs on the board to back you up.”

The offense for the Cyclones didn’t take long to get going as they dropped four runs on the Falcons in the first inning and five more in the second inning.

“These games are always tough to mentally prepare for,” Coach Kasperbauer said. “I was glad to see the girls come out swinging and put runs on the board early.”

In the top of the fourth inning, the Falcons were threatening to score with a few runners on base, but junior shortstop Ella Plagman ran into shallow left field and made an over the shoulder basket catch to prevent them from scoring.

“Ella has some speed and she is getting more and more comfortable with using it,” Kasperbauer said. “I want her to be aggressive and take over and go get those and she did just that.”

With this victory, the Cyclones will play at least one more playoff game on Saturday night at 7 p.m., they will play the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Warriors, (29-9). Gessert will get the ball again for the Cyclones as they look to defeat the Warriors on their field.

“We have to stay focused the next two days,” she added. “We are going to see a totally different team on Saturday night than we saw last night. They have some big hitters and they mix it up with about four pitchers. We are going to have to be solid at the plate.”

 
 

 

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