May 27 @ Bob Morgan Classic

Southeast Valley softball ended their first week of competition in Ogden at the Bob Morgan Classic on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Although the girls walked away without a win for the day, the Jags played tough competition going up against some talented and successful 4A schools. 

The day started with a battle between the “big cats” which saw the Southeast Valley Jaguars facing off against the Tigers from Carroll. The game would go back and forth for five innings before the Tigers would eventually pull away from the Jags to take the game by a score of 1-7. The Jags would only see three hits off the bats of junior shortstop Ellie Nolte, junior catcher Jordyn Rowley, and freshman outfielder Rian Schlief. Nolte would come across the plate for the only run the Jag’s earned in the game after a Rowley single in the fourth inning. Sophomore pitcher Chloe Lambert had another great showing on the mound against the Carroll batters. She faced 33 batters and gave up just three earned runs while striking out five. 

In their second game of the day, the Jags would go up against 2021’s Class 4A state runner up, the Boone Toreadors. In this game, the offense struggled to come alive. While the Jags saw hits from sophomore third baseman Lauren Eslick, senior pitcher Maddie Vansickle, and Jordyn Rowley, only Eslick would come into score after a two stolen bases and error on the catcher. Senior Maddie Vansickle got the start in the circle and fought hard against a lineup of sluggers and savvy base runners. Vansickle faced 34 batters and only walked two while striking out a pair as well. The Toreadors took the game in run-rule fashion by a score of 1-11. 

In their third and final game of the day, the Jags saw another line up of Tigers, this time from Gilbert. Unfortunately, the Jags could not get their offense going in order to avoid another run-rule loss. Gilbert took the W by a score of 1-13. The Jag bats saw great action, but not enough to plate the runs they needed. Ellie Nolte, Maddie Vansickle, and Rian Schlief all put the ball into play. Vansickle ripped a triple down the right field line to plate the only run for the Jags (Eslick). Nolte would single in the third and Schlief got a single of her own in the fourth.

The Jags saw great competition playing up a class size, unfortunately defensive miscues and not enough timely hitting proved to be their achilles heel of the weekend. Southeast Valley softball looks to improve and learn from the outcomes of Saturday to help them through another week of competitive softball. The Jags will start their week with a face off against St. Edmond’s on Tuesday at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.