Southeast Valley softball picked up another win on Monday night in Pocahontas. The Jags defeated the Indians by a score of 11-1 in six innings. 

Maddie VanSickle got the start in the circle and was, yet again, dominant on the mound. Maddie faced 24 batters and fanned five. VanSickle was able to hold a strong Indian offense to just one run and only four hits in total. “I’ve felt pretty confident in my pitching this week. I have just told myself that I have to execute and step up knowing that I am the only pitcher for a while.” (the Jags are currently without sophomore pitcher Chloe Lambert due to a finger injury). Vansickle’s success in the circle, in part, can be attributed to the defense behind her that has stepped up in big situations including two innings where the Indians threatened with runners on second and third, but the Jag defense stood strong and the Indians left them stranded. “My defense behind me is phenomenal. I know when I step into the circle that they have my back. They are always executing big plays which takes a lot of weight off my shoulders and [when] they hype me up, it generates my confidence and I appreciate that a lot!” said VanSickle on her defense. 

Offensively, the Jags gave plenty of insurance for their defense to work with. Ellie Nolte knows that when she sets the table, the whole team eats and follows her lead. “Confidence at the plate is key! If I can start the game by getting on base, I know our team will follow.” said Nolte about her lead off responsibility. Nolte produced and sure enough, the offense followed. The Jags saw production from the entire lineup with seven of nine batters all recording at least one hit. Southeast Valley outscored PAC the third, fifth, and sixth innings to take the game by mercy rule after six complete innings of play. The Jags scored three in the third inning, four in the fifth inning, and added three more in the sixth. 

The offense saw four Jaguars with extra base hits. Ellie Nolte, Lauren Eslick, Maddie VanSickle, and Rian Schlief all had doubles. Nolte, Eslick, and Schlief also added singles to their stat line on the night. Combined these four girls drove in eight runs. Eslick has been seeing the ball well in the last two games with a homerun, a double, and a single in her last four at bats. Typically, Eslick executes the small ball for the Jags, but as of late, she is stepping into a different role. Eslick on her recent role change said, “It felt great to step up and help my team in a different way than I normally do. It means a lot to me to see all of our off season work is paying off.” 

Freshman Rian Schlief worked hard to make noise on both sides of the ball. Schlief had two diving plays to secure big outs for the Jags while playing right field while also being productive at the plate. Schlief was three for three at the plate with two singles, a double, two RBIs, one stolen base, and one run scored. “I’ve worked very, very hard to get where I am and I am just trying to show my hard work and dedication, but I’m not only doing it for myself. I am doing it for the awesome girls I get to play with.” Schlief commented. 

Southeast Valley softball has a busy week ahead of them, playing every night this week. The Jags take on the Rams from Greene County in Harcourt on Tuesday night.