Boone Central/Newman Grove opened the 2016 softball season with a competitive, tough luck 2-0 loss to Highway 91 at Leigh Monday night.
In a splendid pitching battle, the hosts were able to squeeze out their two runs in the fifth inning and squelch a final BC/NG rally attempt to earn the win.
Cardinal sophomore pitcher Keiley Tisthammer, backed by solid defensive play, was dominant for much of the contest, striking out seven batters without a walk.
“The team showed a lot of heart and kept battling the entire game, even when they were down,” praised Coach Danielle Amen. “Our seniors, Jaclyn Frey and Riley Boyd, stepped up in the final inning and tried to spark a rally with back-to-back base hits with two outs, but we ended up falling short in the end.
“It’s going to be an exciting season – the girls have shown huge growth from last year. It was a good first outing against a quality team.”
The hits by Frey and Boyd were the only ones BC/NG was able to collect against Highway 91 hurler Kierra Stewart, who fanned 13 Cardinals.
Further details in Print & Online editions of Albion News
