Southeast Valley High School

Softball

May 31 vs. Sioux Central

The Jaguar softball team began their third week of games and conference play with a matchup against the Rebels from Sioux Central in Harcourt on Wednesday evening. In a thrilling, back and forth, matchup the Jaguars came out on top winning the game by a score of 5-4. 


The beginning of the game would be all in favor of the Rebels with them scoring quickly in their half of the first inning and adding two more in the second.The Southeast Valley offense would be slow to start initially, but the third inning would see more action from the Jaguar bats. Junior second baseman Leilah Olson and sophomore third baseman Lauren Eslick would get things started in the third with back to back walks to put runners on the bases for the top of the lineup to work with. Kenna Scott stepped into the box with runners on second and third after a pair of wild pitches advanced Elsick and Olson. Scott would catch the Rebel defense sleeping when she laid down a bunt to the third base side, scoring Olson from third. On the play, an error by the Sioux Central shortstop would allow Eslick to steal home, putting the Jags within one. 


In the fourth inning, the Jags would add one more run to even the score at three a piece for the Jags and Rebels. Sophomore infielder Chloe Lambert started the inning off with a leadoff walk and put herself into scoring position. Lambert slid safely into third to strengthen the threat of the Jaguar offense on a fielder’s choice hit by junior center fielder Alex Kitchen. Lambert, Schlief, and Kitchen would load the bases and Lambert would reach home when Lauren Eslick was hit by a pitch. 


While the fifth inning would see a three up, three down performance from the Rebel defense, the Jags were not done scoring. In the sixth inning, the Jags would plate two more runs in exciting fashion. After battling in the box, freshman Rian Schlief would rope a single down the first baseline followed by a hard hit single off the bat of Alex Kitchen. Schlief and Kitchen would advance on passed balls to put themselves in scoring position. Leilah Olson stepped up to the plate with a job to do and she did just that. After bringing in the defense with a fake bunt, Olson snuck a base hit down the first base line, plating Schlief and the tie breaking run. The Jags weren’t done when Eslick stepped back into the box for her third plate appearance of the night. With Kitchen on third, Eslick knocked a timely and crucial sac fly to left center, scoring Kitchen easily from third 


The Jaguars scored their winning run and added insurance in the sixth which would put pressure on their defense to close the door on the game. Throughout the game, the defense was stellar. With senior leader and pitcher Maddie Vansickle on the mound, the Jags fought against tough base hits and were able to contain the speedy and smart Rebel offense. Through four innings, Vansicle faced 17 batters, giving up just three hits and three runs (two earned runs) while striking out one. In an attempt to force the Rebels to readjust and give them a new look at the plate, sophomore Chloe Lambert stepped on the mound in the fifth inning. Lambert would silence the Sioux Central offense in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Rebels weren’t going down without a fight.The seventh inning would see the Jags in bind with one run scored and the tying run on second without any outs. The Jags were able to execute behind two huge strikeouts in the seventh from Chloe. Lambert would face 12 batters, allowing three hits, one run, and striking out seven. 


Southeast Valley softball now holds a record of three wins and four losses on the season. They look to add to their win column Thursday night as they welcome the Bulldogs from Algona for a non-conference matchup.

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