Panthers softball team struggling by making errors

Panthers softball team struggling by making errors

September 20, 2001

STAFF REPORT

Fielding errors and throwing errors and a couple mental errors thrown in didn’t help the Panther fast-pitch softball team last weekend in back-to-back doubleheaders against Montrose and Fruita-Monument at the Cortez City Softball Complex.

"We did not have a very good weekend in the field," MCHS head coach Charlie Rosenbaugh reported. "We made too many errors. (They committed 15 against Fruita and 13 against Montrose). Anytime you make that many errors you are not going to win games. We practice and practice but in games they make them. They say they’re nervous, but I told them they have got to get over that. Hopefully we will not make as many this weekend in Grand Junction."

Fruita-Monument’s Savannah Byers hit a two-run homer, helping the Wildcats sweep a doubleheader with the Panthers in Cortez. Fruita won the opener 10-3 and took the nightcap 8-0.

Emily Neal shut out the Panthers in the second game and allowed two hits. In the opener, Amanda Puckett threw a one-hit complete game. The Wildcats led 6-0 by the third inning and pounded out 12 hits. Laura Sloan doubled and Ivy Hansen tripled for Fruita, which improved to 7-4 overall and stayed unbeaten in league play at 5-0.

For the Panthers at the plate in the first game, Christina Schaak cracked a single and a double and Brittany Whiteman rapped a triple. Defensively in that game, MCHS made six errors and Fruita didn’t make any. In the second game at the plate, Linda Smart rapped two solid bunts for singles. Defensively for the Panthers they made nine errors in that game which spelled disaster.

Montrose opened the first game with a 13-2 victory over Cortez the day before. The Indians recorded 16 hits and nine RBI in the win. The Panthers held the early 1-0 lead, but the Indians broke out with five runs in the second inning to blow the game open. Montrose tacked on six more runs in the seventh.

Trish Birawer recorded the win at the mound, striking out six batters and giving up just five hits for her fourth win of the season. Offensively for the Panthers, McKenzie Reed belted a triple and Chelsea Cook rapped a double. Barbara Hayward led the Indians at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Montrose and Cortez battled to a 2-2 tie after the first inning before the Indians slipped into the lead for good in the second inning, winning 15-7. Again, Cortez committed a bunch of errors (six).

Joelle Drown hit an RBI single in the second to bring Hecht home for the go-ahead run. Montrose built a 7-4 lead after three innings and opened the gap with six runs over the fifth and sixth innings to record the 13-7 win.

The Indians again broke out the bats with 18 hits. All nine Montrose starters recorded at least one hit. Jess Nething was 3-for-4 at the plate. For the Panthers, Schaak and Reed both hit a double. It was McKenzie Reed and not Ashley Reed who slugged a grand slam last week.

The Panthers, 0-8, will try to get back in the win column as they take on Central of Grand Junction for a doubleheader at 2 and 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at Kronkright Field. Rosenbaugh reported that two girls are out this week because of eligibility problems.

They will remain in that Western Slope city to take on Grand Junction High for a twin bill at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. They play at Durango in a single game beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25.