Orion softball splits games with Sherrard, Rockridge

Orion split home-and-away games with Sherrard and Rockridge in varsity softball.

On Tuesday, April 20, the Chargers tamed the Tigers 5-4 in Orion.
Two days later, host Sherrard won 14-4.

Rockridge claimed a 6-1 win on Tuesday, April 27, at Charger Field. But on Thursday, April 29, Orion defeated the hosts 7-4 in Edgington.

Orion 5, Sherrard 4

After 2 1/2 scoreless innings, the Chargers put two runs on the board in the third. The Tigers came back with three runs in the fifth to take the lead.

With one out in the seventh, Orion’s leadoff hitter, Abby Taets, drew a walk.

One out later, her sister, Hillary Taets, singled into left field.

Clean-up hitter Jena Malmen doubled in Abby Taets.

Niki Cook singled to score both Hillary Taets and Malmen for the win.

Orion outhit Sherrard 11-6. Malmen batted 4-for-4 and Taylor Larson 2-for-3. Abby Taets, Megan Blumenshein, Hillary Taets, Cook, and Sam Nimrick each had a hit.

Malmen delivered two doubles and Blumenshein, one.

Credited with RBIs were Malmen and Cook, two apiece, and Blumenshein, one.

Hillary Taets pitched the first four innings, allowing two runs, only one earned, on four hits and two walks.

Kelly Hutton earned the win for three innings of relief in which she was tagged with two runs, neither one earned. She gave up two hits and five walks, and she struck out two.

Orion committed four errors and Sherrard, one.

Sherrard 14, Orion 4

In the rematch, the Tigers scored early and often—four runs in the first, two in the second, third and fourth, and four in the fifth.

Batting third, Hillary Taets was hit by pitches twice and scored twice.
Cook singled in two runs in the first and two more in the third to pick up four ribbies.

Malmen was the only other Charger with a single.

The Tigers had 13 hits, including two home runs and a double.

Hillary Taets absorbed the loss. In 1-1/3 innings, she surrendered seven runs, all earned, on seven hits and one walk. She whiffed two.

Hutton pitched 3 1/3 frames. She also gave up seven runs, all earned.

She yielded six hits and three walks, and she struck out one.

Orion made two errors and Sherrard, one.

Rockridge 6, Orion 1

The Rockets led off their half of the first with a home run. An error and two singles loaded the bases for the fifth hitter, who smacked a grand slam. Another home run gave the visitors a 6-0 lead in the fifth.

Orion finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth. With one out, Malmen singled. She scored on a Hutton double up the middle.

The Rockets outhit the Chargers 8-6. Malmen tallied two hits and Blumenshein, Cook, Hutton and Larson, one each.

Hutton had Orion’s only extra-base hit, a double, and also the team’s only RBI.

The loss was charged to Hillary Taets, who was rocked with five runs, all earned, on five hits in the first.

Hutton relieved her at the top of the second. She gave up one earned run on three hits and three bases on balls. She struck out five.

Orion made three errors and Rockridge, none.

Orion 7, Rockridge 4

On the Rocket mound, Hillary Taets shut out the hosts through the first four innings. She struck out eight of the 15 batters she faced. She gave up two hits and one walk. The rest either grounded out or flied out.

The Chargers put a run on the board in the top of the fifth.

In their half of the frame, the Rockets came up with two runs.

Orion scratched out five runs in the sixth, which began with a pitch hitting Abby Taets.

One out later, Hillary Taets reached on the pitcher’s error.

The catcher’s error put Malmen on first and brought Abby Taets across the plate with the tying run.

Cook singled into left field to score Hillary Taets.

Plunked by a pitch, Hutton went to first to load the bases for Larson.
She singled up the middle to score two.

After Grace Leuck walked to load the bags again, Ashlee Amador waited out a 3-1 pitch and drew a base on balls. That brought in Hutton for a 6-2 lead.

The Rockets plated two runners in the bottom of the frame. They started off the seventh with two singles, but relief pitcher Hutton got the next two batters to pop up to the shortstop and catcher. She struck out the last batter.

Orion pounded out 11 hits to six for Rockridge.

Malmen hit 4-for-5, while Hutton and Larson were 2-for-3.
Blumenshein, Hillary Taets and Cook each delivered a hit.

Larson’s double was the only extra-base hit for Orion.

RBIs were credited to Larson, two, and Malmen, Cook, Kylee Peterson and Amador.

Hillary Taets earned the win. In 5 1/3 innings, she gave up four runs, only one earned, on two hits and four walks. She whiffed nine.

Hutton worked 1 2/3 innings. She allowed no hits and no walks, and she struck out one.

Orion made two errors and Rockridge, three.