Sports

Ladyjacks season comes to a close

By Tyler Ohmann

05/14/2013

The Dakota College at Bottineau softball team’s season ended this past Friday as they suffered a pair of four-run defeats at the Region XIII Tournament in International Falls.

In game one the Ladyjacks fell at the hands of Itasca Community College 4-0.

The Vikings scored runs in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, while the Ladyjacks were stymied at the plate.

“We played about as tight physically and mentally as we have all year,” stated Ladyjacks head coach Wayne Johnson. “In spite of ‘the nerves’ we hung in pretty tough.”

Freshman Jess Audette allowed two earned runs on four hits and didn’t walk anyone while striking out six.

“Jess Audette pitched a very solid game giving us a chance to win,” Johnson stated. “Our biggest problem was at the plate.”

DCB had only four hits one each from Danielle Gibson, Nichole Peters, Sadie Riendeau and Jess Carson.

Gibson also made several strong plays in center field to keep the Ladyjacks in the game.

Later in the day the Ladyjacks season came to a close in a 6-2 loss to Rainy River Community College.

The Voyageurs scored three runs in the first inning to draw first blood and led throughout.

They added runs in the third and fifth, but DCB battled back scoring two of their own in the bottom of the fifth.

Rainy River then added another run in the sixth and DCB couldn’t come back.

Gibson was in the pitchers circle for DCB and didn’t allow an earned run and scattered six hits against the region’s top hitting team.

“We had a great pitching performance from Danielle Gibson but could not take advantage of her effort,” Johnson stated. “I thought Danielle was outstanding in keeping the Voyageurs off balance with her excellent change of speeds.”

However, DCB committed eight errors in the contest.

DCB’s runs came on a Sherry Chan home run and three other hits in the inning from Peters, Riendeau and Karlee Brown. Amber Gabel also had a hit, while Chan had another as well.

“Overall I was very happy with our pitching but a bit disappointed with how we swung the bats today after such a great performance last weekend,” Johnson stated. “I was disappointed in the final scores of the games but pleased that the gals competed hard.”

DCB finished the season with a 7-15 record, which was an improvement from the 7-17 mark a year ago. While disappointed with the overall record, Johnson is happy in DCB’s end of the year surge, in which they won five straight to advance to the region for the first time.

“Our overall record for the season was not what we had hoped for but I was really happy with how we finished,” Johnson stated.

Johnson feels the future is bright for DCB as many of their contributors from this season were freshman.

“I believe the program is making good strides and we are looking forward to our returning freshman helping us take the next positive step in 2013,” Johnson stated.

Audette, who pitched game one was named to the All-Region XIII team.

DCB loses four sophomores from this year’s squad including: Chan, Brown, Riendeau and Amanda Schmidt.

“We thank our sophomores for their years as Ladyjacks and wish them the best in the future,” Johnson stated.

DCB returns seven freshman for 2014.