MOBRIDGE, S.D. – The Mobridge-Pollock Lady Tigers earned their first home victory of the season Thursday with a 14-10 win over the Winner Warriors. After a back-and-forth first few innings, Mobridge-Pollock built a large lead and held on despite a late Winner rally. Strong pitching and defense closed out the game as the Lady Tigers improved to 3-6 on the season.
This game marked the first time in nearly a month that the full Mobridge-Pollock roster was together, and it showed with many strong offensive performances. The bottom of the first got started with two singles from Jacy Netterville and Faith Heil, setting up Bentley Bauer to drive in the first run of the game. The next big moment came in the bottom of the second. After two quick groundouts, Ava Wolff hit one that got deep into the outfield, and on a windy day the Winner defense couldn’t get it back in cleanly, allowing Wolff to come all the way around for an inside-the-park home run, the first of three for the Lady Tigers in the win. Bentley Bauer and Quinn Kemnitz scored the other two as part of strong third and fourth innings for Mobridge-Pollock, helping the Lady Tigers take an eight-run lead. Winner rallied in the top of the sixth and brought the game much closer, but in the top of the seventh Rue Knudson retired the side to cap off an excellent performance with seven strikeouts in the win.
This game was a true example of what the Lady Tigers can do when they put everything together and highlighted the improvement they have made this season. Of course, the two seniors, Jacy Netterville and Faith Heil, were welcomed sights back in the starting lineup, both having good days to help secure this big win just a few days before they walk for graduation. Some young players also stepped up in this one. Ava Wolff and Quinn Kemnitz had great days on offense, and Rue Knudson continues to improve in the pitcher’s circle with every outing. Brooke Merkel is one player who has been there for every game this season and had an excellent performance at the plate and in left field in the win, earning her Burger King Player of the Game honors.
In their next outing, Mobridge-Pollock will be back at home for their final home game of the season, taking on Milbank on Tuesday, May 19, with first pitch scheduled for around 4:00 p.m.
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