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Rain puts damper on Tonganoxie softball game in 10-7 loss to Spring Hill

By Evan Riggs - | May 2, 2016

After being rained out for the previous week, the Tonganoxie High softball team was finally able to get back on the field on Friday. However, the weather wasn’t much better in the team’s 10-7 loss to the Spring Hill Broncos.

With a constant rain for more than two hours, conditions were far from ideal for a softball game. The infield resembled a mud pit and there were multiple instances where the ball slipped through players’ hands.

“I think the hardest thing is defense,” head coach Stephanie Wittman said of playing in the rain. “But it was good to play a game even in the rain. I thought the girls came out and played focused for having a week off.”

The rain was a constant all throughout the game, but it picked up in the fifth inning. The teams were just able to get the game finished in the standard seven innings.

Pitcher Maria Howard was credited with the loss. She pitched all seven innings with two strikeouts and three walks. The loss dropped the Chieftains to 8-3 on the year.

The Chieftains offense produced seven runs on seven hits and five walks, but they also struck out 12 times. But it was the runners left on base that ultimately decided the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Chieftains loaded the bases with two outs and had the go-ahead run at the plate. However, junior first basemen Taylor Lee popped out to end the game.

That wasn’t the only chance the Chieftains had.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tonganoxie was down 10-6 with the bases loaded and just one out. Tonganoxie hit a screaming line drive to first base that was caught by Spring Hill and turned into a double play that ended the inning.

“It’s frustrating,” Wittman said of leaving the bases loaded twice. “One of those two was really hard hit. As long as the girls are making good contact, it’s just softball. Double plays will happen, especially if you’re aggressive running the bases.”

After an early 4-1 start by Spring Hill, Tonganoxie took advantage of two walks and two errors by Spring Hill and scored four runs, taking a 5-4 lead.

However, the Chieftains weren’t able to hold that slim lead for long. The Broncos’ bats came alive in the fifth inning and they scored six runs, taking a 10-5 lead and control of the game. Two walks and two errors by the Chieftains helped the Broncos take control.

“When one person gets a hit, hitting is contagious,” Wittman said. “Spring Hill has too good of power hitters to not make outs.”

Tonganoxie played Basehor-Linwood for a doubleheader Tuesday at Leavenworth County Fairgrounds after The Mirror’s deadline. The team also plays a doubleheader Thursday in Shawnee against Mill Valley, another doubleheader Monday at Baldwin and then a doubleheader Wednesday, May 11 at home against Piper for a makeup date. All doubleheaders start at 4 p.m.