The Staples Motley Cardinal softball team last week grabbed four big Mid State Conference wins before losing a slugfest to the Pelican Rapids girls.

The girls on Tuesday, April 21 socked Crosby- Ironton twice, winning 11-0 in the first game and 20-0 in the second.

Abby Edin pitched very well in the first game, striking out 12, walking two, and giving up just one hit. Her teammates got 11 runs on eight hits and took advantage of three C-I errors.

"Our girls needed to adjust to C-I's pitcher right from the start. Once they figured it out they hit the ball very well," Coach Bruce Onischuk said.

In game one Rachael Hoemberg was 2 for 3, scoring twice, and knocking in one run. Sophomore (rookie) Kelli Roline went two for two, scoring one, and knocking in a run. "Defensively the girls played a very clean game committing no errors," Onischuk noted.

In game two against C-I, Abby again pitched and struck out five and walked three. She gave up no hits in the shutout. "There were a few times when she got behind in the count but came back strong."

The girls settled in at the plate and hit the ball extremely well. They had eight extra base hits- three doubles, four triples, and a home run by Rachael Hoemberg. She was 3 for 3 at the plate, scoring three runs, knocking in five more, and hitting the home run. Angie Bernstrom was 3 for 4 scoring twice, knocking in 3, hitting a double, and two triples. Heather Zetah went 1 for 2, scoring 3, walking twice, and hitting a triple.

Staples World photo by Tom Crawford Good eye Cardinal softball player Jennifer Vasquez let this pitch go by in the Cards 10-0 first game win over the Pequot Lakes Patriots April 23. She carried a big bat, getting six hits in the two games played that day.

Two days later, Staples Motley swept both games of a home double-header on April 23 against Pequot Lakes, winning 10-0 in the first and 22-4 in the second.

Abby Edin picked up both complete-game wins. She held Pequot to just one hit in the first game and seven in the second, both five inning contests.

Staples Motley girls smacked 12 hits in the first game and 18 in the second. Jennifer Vasquez at the plate was 6 for 7 and Rachael Hoemberg 5 for 7, including a double. Jennifer scored five times and knocked in six runs. Rachael crossed the plate six times and had seven RBI's.

Shut out in progress Third baseman Ashley Miles waited for the possible hit as Cardinal pitcher Abby Edin was in the middle of her wind up for a pitch to one of the Pequot Lakes batters. Edin pitched a one-hit, Staples World photo by Tom Crawford five inning shut-out win in the first of two games against the Patriots on April 23. She came back for a four-hit victory in the second game.

The Pequot win gave the Cards a 4-1 record in Mid State Conference play. They were 4-3 overall prior to their Pelican Rapids contest on Friday.

Playing on the Cardinal diamond in windy and cold conditions, the Viking girls won 14-11. Pelican slapped out 13 hits and made four errors, while SM had 11 runs on 11 hits and also had four errors.

Lana Dumpprope was 3 for 4 for the Cards, scoring three and getting one RBI. Hoemberg was 3 for 5, scoring four times, and getting two RBI.

"We got behind early but came back within two runs. It seemed as though we would gain with our at bats but then we would self destruct defensively. Pelican hit the ball very well especially when they needed to. We were down most of the game but finally went ahead. Unfortunately we committed a couple of errors and Pelican went ahead. In the bottom of the seventh we started to come back but couldn't quite get the job done."

The Cardinal girls had games early this week at Melrose on Monday and a conference double header Tuesday at Detroit Lakes. On Friday, they will be hosting the Park Rapids
girls.
Softball results
April 21
First game
Staples Motley: 11 runs 8
hits 0 errors
C-I: 0 runs, 1 hit, 3 errors
WP: Abby Edin pitched five
innings, getting 12 strikeouts, 2
walks, and giving up 1 hit.
Second game
SM: 20- 14 1 error
C- I 0 0 2 errors
WP: Abby Edin, 5 innings, no
hits, 5 strike outs, 3 walks
April 23

Game One
Pequot Lakes 0 1 4
Staples Motley 10 12 0
WP: Abby Edin. LP: Jamie
Sewall. 2B: PL Ashley Zimmerman.

Game Two
Pequot Lakes 4 7 0
Staples Motley 22 18 1
WP: Edin. LP: Sewall. 2B: SM
Rachael Hoemberg 2, Jennifer
Vasquez.
April 24
Pelican Rapids:14 runs 13
hits 4 errors
Staples Motley: 11 runs 11
hits 4 errors