Sweet Home’s softball team ran up the score and forced the game to be called per the 10-run rule after six innings in a convincing 12-2 win over Gladstone in a play-in game at Husky Field on Friday, May 20.
The win gave the Huskies some momentum as they move into the 4A round of 16 as a ninth seed. The Huskies will face off against eighth-seeded Henley at Henley High School on Wednesday, May 25 at 5 p.m.
“Being able to make it to the 16-team championship bracket has been quite an accomplishment for this group,” Head Coach Karyn Hartsook said.
“They believed in the process and what we have been doing with them. Their successes have come due to their hard work and diligence.”
Sweet Home was down 2-1 going into the bottom of the third inning, before the offense came alive to put up 11 unanswered runs.
“It was a rough start; post-season jitters are a real thing,” Hartsook said. “Our four seniors each stepped up and contributed physically and with strong mental leadership.”
Chloe Fairchild scored in the first inning on an error by Gladstone’s left fielder. In the third inning, with her team down 2-1, Fairchild again scored on a Maddie Harris double. Adisen Graber connected for a double later in the inning to score Harris and Brooke Burke, putting the score at 4-2 Sweet Home after three innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, an Adaira Sleutel double scored Graber, and a Mykal Johnston double scored Kelsie Rush and Sleutel, stretching the lead to 7-2 after five innings.
The Huskies put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with five runs. Harris scored on an error by the Gladiators’ second baseman.
Burke scored on a fielder’s choice. Graber singled, scoring Riley Watkins.
Later, Graber scored on an error by Gladstone’s right fielder, and Sleutel scored on an error by the second baseman.
Graber led the team with three RBIs, while Johnston had two.
Harris pitched all six innings for the Huskies, giving up no earned runs on two hits while striking out six and walking one.
Hartsook noted that “Kelsie Rush was out to work in right field and played a strong defensive game for us.”
Sweet Home had six hits to Gladstone’s two. The Huskies committed five errors on defense while Gladstone had seven.