Cowgirls defet CAL, St. Edmond

In their most recent home game last Friday night, the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows varsity softball team just got by a stubborn St. Edmond bunch by a 6-5 score. The Cowgirls allowed three Gael runs across in the first, then finally responded with two scores of their own in their half of the fourth. Courtney Harle reached on a single, then advanced to second after Paige Willey took a free pass on balls. Harle stole her way to third, and Willey soon followed by swiping second. Emily Kapka would drive in Harle on a base hit to right, with Willey then scoring on an error.

After allowing the Gaels a run each in the fifth and sixth frames, the Cowgirls put their bats to work in plating four scores in their half of the sixth. Harle reached all the way to third on consecutive errors, with Willey also reaching on an error and stealing her way to second. Faith Nelson, who’s been swinging a hot stick lately, drilled a double to left of center to bring in both Harle and Willey. Courtesy runner Maya Jackson would then score on an error, with Hackley bringing in Emma Konvalinka with the final run. After the Gaels threatened by pushing the tying run to second in their half of the seventh, Sydney Terhark held them in check along with good fielding to preserve the win.

The red and black only got six total hits, but it was enough. Besides Nelson’s huge double, Vanessa Kolb, Harle, Konvalinka, Emily Kapka and Hackley all provided a base hit each. Nelson’s two RBI were matched by single runs driven in by Kapka and Hackley. Harle and Willey crossed the dish twice for the night, with Konvalinka and Maya Jackson getting credit for a run scored each. Willey swiped two bases, with Harle, Konvalinka, Megan Askelsen and Hackley all making one steal each. Willey also drew a walk.

For more about last week's games, see the June 29 edition of the Monitor.