Taylor Larson and Brooke Janning hit homers Tuesday as the Blair softball team won its first meeting with the newest member of the Eastern Midlands Conference — Lincoln Northwest.
The Class B No. 6 Bears routed the first-year Falcons, 12-0, putting the road game away with a nine-run third frame. Coach Jennifer Fangmeier's team is 4-2 this season.
BHS scored twice during the opening inning. Leah Chance hit her way onto the basepath and scored on a Northwest miscue. Senior Tessa Villotta then plated Nessa McMillen for a 2-0 advantage before the Falcons' first at-bats against pitcher Kalli Ulven.
Then, during the third frame, the Bears' McMillen, Audie Keeling, Joslyn Policky, Cailey Anderson and Janning made contact swings for runs. Blair led 11-0 after Janning capped the frame with a three-run home run.
After another scoreless frame from the Falcons, Taylor Larson hit a solo homer during the fourth. The conference game ended a half inning later by run-rule.
BHS LINE SCORE
Tuesday
No. 6 Blair 12, Lincoln Northwest 0
BHS (4-2) 2 0 9 1 — 12
LNW (1-4) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Fort Calhoun drops to 3-3
Fresh off of its North Bend Central Invite title over the weekend, the Fort Calhoun softball team played two Monday night in Tekamah.
Victories were tougher to come by.
The Pioneers lost their triangular opener to 3-0 Elkhorn North 13-3 before an 8-7 loss to the host Tekamah-Herman Tigers in the nightcap.
FCHS (3-3 overall) scored all three of its runs against the Wolves during the first two innings. Izzy Greenough hit into a run-scoring error in the first inning before scoring on a wild pitch herself.
Then, during the second inning, Kaylee Taylor notched an RBI single, pulling the Pioneers within 8-3 in the 10-run defeat.
Against Tekamah, though, coach Mandy Taylor's squad played a much tighter game. Anna Taylor produced the go-ahead sac fly in the sixth inning, scoring Addie Benoit before the Tigers won out with two runs during the bottom half.
To get into position to take its 7-6 lead, though, the Pioneers needed a five run fifth inning. Trailing 6-1, Anna Taylor and Lucie Larsen notched back-to-back doubles to start.
Bryanna Bender and Adriana Hernandez then knocked in runs before Kaitlyn Welchert's two-RBI single pulled the visitors within one score. Brewer plated that tying run with a triple, setting up the final inning — which Tekamah, ultimately, won 2-1.
FCHS LINE SCORES
Monday
Tekamah-Herman 8, Fort Calhoun 7
FCHS (3-3) 0 0 0 1 5 1 — 7
TK (1-2) 0 0 4 2 0 2 — 8
Elkhorn North 13, Fort Calhoun 3
EN (3-0) 6 2 0 1 4 — 13
FCHS (3-2) 2 1 0 0 0 — 3
Arlington blasts Logan View
The Arlington softball team took control immediately Tuesday in Uehling, scoring seven first-inning runs and besting Logan View/Scribner-Snyder 13-1 in five.
Coach Janelle Lorsch's Eagles improved to 3-1 with the victory, pushing their run-differential to plus-18 through four games.
Bailey Taylor and Hannah Stahlecker provided the hardest AHS hits against the Raiders. Both seniors hit homers, finishing with two RBIs apiece. Britt Nielsen, Kiersten Taylor and Rylee Fuehrer knocked in two runs each, too, while Emery McIntosh batted in one.
Kiersten Taylor notched the Arlington pitching victory as well, her third of the young season. She struck out four batters and allowed just three hits.
The Eagles were to play their first home game Thursday against Omaha Duchesne and compete at a West Point GACC tournament Saturday. Their first Bluejay Invite game is 10 a.m. against Ponca.
AHS LINE SCORE
Tuesday
Arlington 13, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder 1
AHS (3-1) 7 0 0 2 4 — 13
LVSS (0-2) 0 0 1 0 0 — 1
