The Cowboy softball team had two commanding wins against Cedaredge this past Saturday to seal third place in the league and give the girls a great confidence boost before heading to regionals next weekend.
Cowboy softball is heading to regionals after two wins this weekend. Above, Kastyn Dembowski. | AMBER GARCIA PHOTO
Meeker came out of the gates firing on all cylinders putting up nine runs in the first inning. Miah Wren led off the team with a bunt to put her on first, followed by Brea Garcia’s base hit, then Emma Bauer stepped up again to score two runs with a hard hit single, followed by more RBI hits by Dylan Herndon, Wren, and Ryann Mergelman all in the first inning. After the long first half to the inning, Garcia took the mound and allowed no runs with three quick outs to finish the first inning.
“The girls continued to smash the ball all the way through the lineup, and played solid defense behind Garcia,” said head coach Kendal Bergman, “Brea gave up only one earned run throughout the game.”
The Cowboys kept the bats on fire with Wren’s triple, Mergelman’s over-the-fence homerun, Bauer’s double, and Reagan Hafey’s double.
“The cherry on top of a solid game was a game-ending, diving catch by Hafey at second base, sealing the 15-2 win,” commented Bergman. “The girls had great momentum and confidence coming into the second game.”
The Cowboys were first to score again with two runs coming in the first inning with an RBI double by Mergelman and a single by Hafey. After putting up two runs, the Cowboys took the field with Hafey on the mound. Garcia got the first out of the game at second base followed by two strikeouts for Hafey.
At bat, the Cowboys once again made solid contact through the entire game to put up 20 runs. “Hafey had a great hit that bounced off the top of the outfield fence for a double, Kastyn Dembowski hit an RBI single, Mergelman hit a two-RBI single and later a triple, and another for Hafey with a two-RBI single later in the game.”
The Cowboys continued to pull further and further away the longer the game went on and continued to produce runs. The sixth inning proved to be the most productive with a total of eight runs being scored.
“The sixth was the most impressive inning with nearly everyone on the team getting a hit that inning or staying patient to get themselves on base with a walk,” said Bergman. “I am so incredibly proud of these girls for their determination and strength to never give up and never let up. It’s an important step in our growth as a team to score every inning and never settle in these games.”
The regional brackets were announced early Monday morning and the Cowboys will be traveling to Lamar to play first against Thomas Jefferson at noon on Saturday. They will play a second game, win or lose their first, against either Lamar or Gunnison at 2 p.m.
“We are very excited for a great week of practice before heading off to regionals this upcoming weekend,” wrapped up Bergman. “Thank you for the great support for our girls and keep cheering us on! Go Cowboys!”
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
