Staff writer
The Hillsboro softball team split with Pratt on Monday, winning the first game, 5-1, and dropping game two, 6-5.
In the loss, head coach Stephanie Sinclair wished the Trojans were able to play the Greenbacks more often. The loss illuminated some of the things the Trojans have to improve.
The Hillsboro offense, possibly the Trojans’ strength, went through streaks in each game. This was due in part to Pratt hurler Britnee Hill who started game one and came in for the winning effort in relief in game two. The lefty pitcher featured a nasty fastball and change-up repertoire. She was apt to get the Trojans to chase with high fastballs early in counts.
Madison Klein started off each contest with a double and later scored the opening run for the Trojans with help from a sacrifice bunt from Emily Jost and sacrifice fly from Kennedy Lucero.
In the first game, Bradli Nowak and Julie Sinclair had RBI singles to score Tena Loewen and Danae Bina as a part of a four run third inning.
After the opening run from Klein in game two, the Trojan put up another four-run third inning with RBIs from Klein and Jost, scoring Bina and Nowak.
Sinclair would like the Trojans be more consistent on offense, especially when forcing a formidable pitcher. However, she does not want her team to change its aggressive approach at the plate.
“I don’t ever put a stop light on them,” Sinclair said. “Sometimes you wait so long, you don’t get the pitch you want.”
The two game set with Pratt also showed a test for ace Allison Weber. Weber was dominant in a complete game effort in the first contest, wracking up a slew of ground ball outs by staying ahead in counts and keeping the ball low in the zone.
With Weber looking to be in top form, Sinclair went back to Weber in the second game. Those batted balls turned into hits and Pratt scored four runs in the first three innings.
It has been the Trojans early season policy to go with Weber in game one and then pitch Julie Sinclair in the back end of double header. Stephanie Sinclair was prepping her pitcher for possible points later this season when the Trojans need her to throw twice.
Loewen relieved Weber and the Trojans were up 5-4 before Pratt scored a two runs on two hits in the sixth inning.