GHV blasts West Fork, 17-2

(Above) GHV’s Maddie Graham got the win on the mound against West Fork.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura girls had a huge highlight in an otherwise disappointing week, when they blasted West Fork, 17-2 on Thursday, June 22.  The Cardinal’s record now stands at 4-17.

Bishop Garrigan 4, GHV 3

The Cardinals dropped a close game to Bishop Garrigan on Wednesday, June 21, despite outhitting them seven to five.

The Cardinals got on the board in the first inning when Bailee Pitzenberger popped out to left field and after tagging up, Jayden Hughes scored.

The Golden Bears scored one run in the first inning and two in the second.

GHV scored again in the third inning after Jackie Van Oort singled on a line drive that brought Trinity Smith home.

Bishop Garrigan scored one more run in the bottom of the third inning.  GHV scored in the fifth when Abby Kale knocked a single to center field and Smith scored.  That was the end of the scoring for both teams and Bishop Garrigan finished on top, 4-3.

Pitzenberger pitched the entire game.  She gave up five hits, four runs and struck out four.

Van Oort and Smith had two hits apiece.  Hughes, Kale and Megan Oetken each had one hit each.

Hughes, Pitzenberger and Macey Spilman each were credited with an RBI.

Van Oort had two stolen bases.

GHV 17, West Fork 2

To say the GHV girls came ready to play on Thursday, June 22, is an understatement.  The Cardinals defeated West Hancock in three innings, 17-2.

GHV plated eight runs in the first inning alone, mostly on singles and stolen bases.  The Cards got four more runs in the second inning to go up 11-0, before the Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the second.  GHV scored five more runs in the third to end the game.

GHV had 11 hits, led by Jayden Hughes who connected on three.  Hughes also led the team in RBIs with three and she scored two runs.  Trinity Smith collected two hits and two RBIs and she scored two runs.  Jillian Heitland had one hit, two RBIs and she scored three runs.

Jacki Van Oort was burning up the base paths with four stolen bases.

Maddie Graham got the win.  She gave up five hits, two runs and struck out one.

Lake Mills 6, GHV 4

The Cardinals put up a good fight on Friday, June 23, when they hosted Lake Mills.

The Bulldogs had a big first inning, scoring three runs.  GHV followed that with a big third inning, scoring all four of their runs.  The first run came when Bailee Pitzenberger singled on a fly ball that brought in Jacki Van Oort.  The next run came with Megan Oetken singled on a ground ball that brought in Abby Kale. The last two runs came off a ground ball by Mackenzie Van Gerpen that plated Maddie Graham and Oetken.  Lake Mills went on to score three more runs to win the game, 6-4.

Newman 15, GHV 1

Emmetsburg 7, GHV 3

GHV hosted a tournament on Saturday, June 24.

The Cardinals faced Newman Catholic in the first game.  The Knights schooled the Cardinals in a 15-1 romp.  A huge sixth inning, where Newman scored 10 runs, including a grand slam, doomed the Cardinals.

GHV’s lone run came in the fourth inning when Bailee Pitzenberger doubled on a ground ball that scored Mackenzie Van Gerpen.

On a bright note, the Cardinals did not commit one error in the field.  Megan Oetken had the most chances in the field with seven.

Maddie Graham did a majority of the pitching.  She pitched five innings, giving up 11 hits and 13 runs and she struck out four batters.

Pitzenberger was the only player to get a hit, while 11 batters were struck out.

The second game also saw the Cardinals on the losing side, falling to Emmetsburg, 7-3.

The Cardinals came out strong and scored in the first inning when Oetken hit a single line drive that brought in Jayden Hughes.  Emmetsburg scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead.

GHV followed that by scoring two runs in the second inning.  One run was scored on a home run hit by Van Gerpen.  The next run came off a single by Van Oort that plated Nicole Upmeyer to give GHV the lead, 3-2.  Emmetsburg went on to score five more runs for the victory.

Van Gerpen led the team with two hits and one RBI.  Van Oort and Oetken were the only other players to connect.

Hughes led the team with two stolen bases.

Pitzenberger pitched the entire game, giving up 11 hits, seven runs and striking out three.

“Our record didn’t show it, but we had our best week of softball this week.  The girls were making the defensive plays, but our bats went silent, which is the way softball can go,” said Coach Matt Graham.  “If we keep up the competitive desire we had this last week, we can get some wins and be going in the right direction for Regional play.”

The GHV girls will travel to Clear Lake on Wednesday, July 5, for the opening round of Regionals.  Game time is 7 p.m.