The Fort Calhoun softball team started its season 0-2 last week with losses to West Point Guardian Angels Central Catholic and Logan View/Scribner-Snyder.
Though they still haven't won a game since 2019, the Pioneers were competitive during both 2021 contests. Coach Mandy Taylor's squad trailed the Raiders just 7-5 during Saturday's home opener before a nine-run top of the sixth inning. Logan View left Calhoun 16-7 winners, but the losing coach was still proud of her team's effort.
“The girls stayed up. They battled hard,” Taylor said. “And they're going to come back. This is a learning experience for us.”
FCHS trailed 5-0 after one inning and 7-0 before scoring its first run in the fourth frame. Freshman Addie Benoit plated that tally with a sacrifice fly.
Then, during the fifth inning, the Pioneers scored four runs to give themselves a shot to beat the Raiders. Freshman Allison Prunty hit a lead off double before Maddie Reed knocked her in with a hard liner into the left-centerfield.
Katie Barta and Kaylee Taylor both bunted to load the bases before Sam Brewer knocked in another run to pull Fort Calhoun within 7-3. The sophomore catcher later scored the Pioneers' fifth run on a passed ball after Benoit's second RBI of the game.
Logan View responded to FCHS' threat with a nine-run assault during the sixth, but coach Taylor's team kept swinging. Kaylee Taylor and Brewer knocked in two more runs before the game ended after six innings by run rule.
“It just comes down to experience,” Mandy Taylor said when asked about the Pioneers' prowess at the plate after struggling to score runs a year ago. “These girls have had a lot of game time experience.”
For a lineup filled with freshman talent, including pitchers Lucie Larsen and Anna Taylor, practice could equal progress as the season goes on.
“I love my girls,” coach Taylor said. “Wouldn't trade them. We're going to do good things.”
Pioneers drop tight opener
Fort Calhoun scored the first two runs of Thursday's season opener at West Point Guardian Angels CC, but lost the close game, 4-2.
Larsen — who also pitched — and Benoit notched Pioneer RBIs in their high school debuts, while Brewer notched a team-high two hits. Bella Benoit and Kaylee Taylor logged hits, too.
FCHS led 2-1 until the Bluejays scored two runs during the bottom half of the fourth inning, taking the lead and winning the game.
