Pioneers drop hard-fought, 6-4 softball exhibition

FCHS begins home schedule officially Saturday

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The Fort Calhoun softball team started its fall season Tuesday night with a close, hard-fought exhibition loss to Tekamah-Herman.
The Pioneers earned a 3-2 advantage during the sixth inning of the home NSAA Jamboree game, but surrendered a four-run seventh in defeat. Despite the close loss, at least two FCHS players were excited about how their team played in its debut after an 0-19 campaign last fall.
“Our chemistry this year is a lot stronger,” sophomore catcher Sam Brewer said. “Because of COVID, last year we didn't really get to team bond or anything like that.”
Senior Maddie Reed also credited a solid team rapport, but made sure to note the influx of freshmen talent that contributed during Tuesday's exhibition, too. The entire ninth-grade class — Kaylee Taylor, Samantha Thomas, Anna Taylor, Allison Prunty, Addie Benoit and Lucie Larsen — have added to the Pioneers lineup.
“I want to say, Lucie, she is an amazing pitcher,” Reed said before complimenting all three pitchers who played against the Tigers. After Tekamah scored two first-inning runs, Larsen and Anna Taylor held it scoreless over the next four innings.
“They're going to help a lot,” Reed said.
Senior Katie Barta, the starter, stepped back in and threw a scoreless sixth frame as well.
“They did amazing,” Brewer said of the staff. “They can still work on some things. But, honestly, overall, we improved a lot with our pitching.”
Constant coach Mandy Taylor substitutions kept outfielders and infielders moving around the diamond and lineup as the Pioneers used the exhibition contest to build for Thursday's opener in West Point and Saturday's 12:30 p.m. home opener against Logan View. Even so, FCHS managed four runs. Brewer plated the first during the bottom of the first with a single before Benoit's double to left field evened the score, 2-2.
Later, during the sixth, sophomore Sophie Thomas bunted with Reed on second base. After the Tigers' throw to first missed its target, the senior kept running and scored to give the Pioneers a one-run advantage.
The lead held less than an inning, but Fort Calhoun battled back down 6-3 all the same. Barta reached out of the lead-off spot during the seventh frame before Kaylee Taylor knocked her in with an RBI single.
Brewer advanced to second base later in the inning and watched with Taylor on third as Tekamah-Herman logged the game-ending strikeout. After 19-straight losses last season, though, the Pioneers believe Tuesday's tight outing is a sign that they'll be improved this fall.
“It felt good,” Reed said, the smile on her face confirming the feeling.

Fort Calhoun Softball