June 13, 2022 

Southeast Valley softball jumped into another week of competition Monday night for an away contest against the Indians from Pocahontas Area. The Jaguars and Indians battled for seven innings with several lead changes throughout the game. 

The Jaguars would jump on the board first resulting from a homerun off the bat of sophomore shortstop, Ellie Nolte, however, the Indians would punch right back with five runs of their own in the first inning- taking full advantage of the errors committed by the Jag defense. In the second inning, the Jags would flip the score in their favor by scoring five of their own runs in their half of the second innings. Sophomore center fielder Alex Kitchen started the scoring with a lead off walk followed by a double off the bat of freshman pitcher Chloe Lambert. Leilah Olson would step in the box, hitting a single of her own and plating Lambert. Eighth grade speedster, Camryn Lane, came into run for Olson, reaching second on a steal and moving to third after a beautiful sacrifice bunt from freshman Lauren Eslick. Ellie Nolte would step into the plate and score Lane from third, and reaching second on a steal. Jordyn Rowley would put one down the line, reaching first base safely, advancing to second while Nolte toyed with the PAC defense. Rowley and Nolte would both score off a triple hit by junior first baseman Maddie Vansickle, but that would be it for the Jags in the second, putting the Jags on top 6-5. The Indians showed they would not go down without a fight in the second, scoring three more runs in their half of the inning. 

The bats for both teams went quiet for innings three through five, but the sixth inning came around and the Jaguar bats woke up. Chloe Lambert started the sixth innings with a leadoff single followed by a walk to Olson. With Olson and Correll (running for Lambert) on the basepath, sophomore Ellie Nolte would step into the box and keep her hitting streak alive, ripping a double to the left-center gap, scoring Correll from second and moving Olson to third. Kenna Scott would add to her streak of hits in a game by hitting a single and outrunning the throw from short. On Scott’s hit, Nolte would score. Rowley would again get to the plate and single, scoring Kenna Scott. Hitting is a contagious thing and eighth grade right fielder Rian Schlief caught the bug, ripping a timely and crucial two run single in front of the PAC center fielder. Schlief’s two RBIs would be the deciding factor in the outcome of this contest, as it gave the Jags a three run lead going into the seventh inning. 

The Indians had grit and fight, scoring two runs in the seventh, putting them just two runs away from the conference win, but second baseman Leilah Olson put an end to those hope by flashing the leather to make a crucial catch after a tough battle in the box between Lambert and Aljets of Pocahontas. Olson also made the final out of the inning, earning the Jags their fourth win in Twin Lakes Conference play. 

Maddie Vansickle started in the circle and freshman Chloe Lambert finished the job, earning the win on the mound. 

The Jaguars hold a record of seven wins and six losses on the season and remain undefeated in conference play. Southeast Valley softball is back in action for more conference play on Wednesday night in Harcourt against the Raiders of East Sac County. 

Ellie Nolte: 3/4 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 single, 2 RBIs, 3 Runs scored

Chloe Lambert: 2/4 1 2B, 1 single, 1 RBI, 2 Runs scored, W on the mound, 4 SO