Fort Calhoun High School won more softball games this fall than it did in 2019, 2020 and 2021 combined.
The Pioneers finished 11-13 Monday at the Class C-1 Subdistrict Tournament, closing the year with more wins than any FCHS team since the 2017 lineup went 14-5. Coach Mandy Taylor's latest squad — which has only 10 players — beat Tekamah-Herman 9-1 in Falls City for win No. 11 before the tourney hosts topped it, 11-3.
“Ultimately, our mighty 10 have fun playing the game,” the coach said. “(They) show up to compete, but they truly enjoy playing the game.”
An eight-run bottom of the sixth inning broke open and ended a 1-1 contest against the Tigers in Fort Calhoun's postseason opener.
“Our ladies definitely brought good energy to the game from start to finish,” Taylor said. “The girls made some great plays early on defense.”
Well after Addie Benoit's RBI single in the first frame, though, lead-off hitter Kaylee Taylor reached to start the sixth, too. Sam Brewer joined her, setting up Benoit's hit into a run-scoring error for a 2-1 advantage. The Pioneers' Anna Taylor then notched a two-RBI triple before Adriana Hernandez's RBI single.
“Running through the lineup that last inning was sure fun,” Mandy Taylor said.
Ahead 5-1, Bryanna Bender hit an RBI single, too, which set up Kaylee Taylor's two-RBI double. Brewer finally capped the rally with a game-ending single to move FCHS into the subdistrict title game.
In it, coach Taylor's squad scored two first-inning runs to match Falls City's effort during the top half. Kaylee Taylor scored the first before Kaitlyn Welchert plated the second on a single.
The Pioneers added a third score during the third inning on Lucie Larsen's double, but managed none across the fourth and fifth frames as their hosts tallied seven. The loss was their 13th, finishing off the winningest FCHS campaign in five years' time.
“These girls love this game,” coach Taylor said. “But, even better, they care about each other.”
