The Fort Calhoun age 10 and younger softball team finished fifth out of 13 teams July 17 during USA Softball of Nebraska Class D State Tournament in Hastings.
Coach Sarah Billesbach's Pioneers went 2-2 across three days, besting Battle Creek 7-6 and Bennington 11-10. Fort Calhoun also dropped games to the Yutan Jr. Patriots 12-6 and Mead, 6-5.
On July 16, the Pioneers left their game with Yutan and scrambled to find shelter with a tornado warning in effect.
“(The) Fort Calhoun team found shelter at the nearby Walmart and were ushered into a secure area by a friendly Walmart staff, handing out cookies and water,” said Michael Bach, who relayed news of the Pioneers' success to Enterprise Media Group.
Billesbach's coaching staff also included Ty Dworak, Erin Schneider and Ashley Hallberg. The Fort Calhoun 10U roster members are Madison Bach, Christina Bach, Lucy Billesbach, Tinsley Ross, Kaitlyn Gochanour, Olive Hanford, Eloise Barondeau, Bella Nelson, Ella Dworak, Ione Schneider, Quinn Hallberg, Willow Weaver, Rylie Johnson, Regan Johnson and Alice Kubicek.
