The softball season is getting near its end, and the Southern Valley/Alma Saints wrapped up the regular season ahead of subdistrict play beginning Monday. Before we discuss subdistricts, let's talk about the last week of the regular season.
Southern Valley/Alma had four games and went 2-2 during the week.
First they played at Hershey on Monday and came away with a 11-3 win. It was a comeback of sorts, when the Saints found themselves down 3-0 after one inning of play. Southern Valley/Alma though reeled off those 11 runs in each of the next four innings. Three in the second, four in the third, two in the fourth, and two in the fifth. Kaitlyn Bradley was 2-4 with two RBIs, Brynn Baily was 1-4 with an RBI, Natalee Holste was 2-4 with an RBI, Amy Luke was 2-3 with an RBI, Zalie White was 2-3 with three RBIs, and Maci Adams was 1-3 with two RBIs.
On the mound, Mikah Schultz went five innings, allowed one hit, 0 earned runs, and had two strikeouts.
The Saints then faced Kearney Catholic at a Triangular Southern Valley/Alma hosted on Tuesday. The Saints were knotted up with the Stars through two innings. In the third inning, the Stars scored six runs, and then in the fifth they did it again. The Saints tried to recover, but could not. Maddie Zade was the lone Saints player to get a hit in the game.
The Saints though were able to get a win versus Chase County at the Triangular, 10-0. The Saints were steady on both sides. They scored five runs in the bottom of the first to start strong. Then, they scored one in the second, and four in the third. Izzy Dubbs was 3-3 with an RBI, Baily was 0-3 but recorded two RBIs, and Sarah Holste was 2-3 with an RBI.
Natalee Holste was excellent on the mound with four innings pitched, throwing a no-hitter, and had four strikeouts. A no-hitter? Maybe Athlete of the Week potential with an outing like that.
Then on Thursday, the Saints face Kearney Catholic again, this time on the road. The Saints lost 8-7 in the game. Going into the home half of the fifth inning, Southern Valley Alma led 7-3. The Stars began their comeback by scoring three runs in that inning. Then in the bottom of the sixth, the Stars scored two more to take the lead, then held the Saints to no runs in the top of the seventh to get the win.
Baily again was solid at the dish with two RBIs and going 2-2, Sarah Holste was 3-4 with three RBIs, and Natalee Holste had an RBI on 1-3 at the plate.
The Saints enter C-9 subdistrict play at 9-17 and will play Cozad at 4:00 P.M. on Monday. They are the #3 seed and Cozad is the #2 seed. If they win, they will pay at 6:00 P.M. that evening against either Gothenburg or Ord. The games will. be played in Gothenburg.