There’s always a heightened level of energy involved with a season opener.
The Macomb High softball squad and first year coach Madelyn Belville needed every bit of that energy in Saturday’s 7-6 home victory over Monmouth United.
“I think energy is what really saved us this game,” said Belville. “We had a lot of energy in the dugout, a lot of energy in the field, energy at the plate.”
“They were making the adjustments that they needed to make,” she added.
Tied at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Lily Schmalshof started the rally with a single to left, her second hit of the game.
“Coming up to bat, I just knew ‘don’t swing for the fences, you just need contact here,’” said Schmalshof. “That’s what I got.”
Schmalshof advanced to second on a wild pitch before Peyton Corbin reached when she was hit by a pitch.
Schmalshof then used perfect timing in stealing third. Taking a huge lead off second base, she broke for third when the catcher threw to second for a pickoff attempt.
“I saw an opportunity to get a base ahead, so I took it,” Schmalshof said.
Lilian Goc then walked to load the bases.
However, Lyllie Pilger struck out and Reagan Knowles lined out to third.
Autumn Starbuck hit a ground ball on the infield with the throw coming home for the force out.
The throw beat Schmalshof to the plate, but the home plate umpire ruled that the United catcher did not touch home plate. That allowed Schmalshof to score the winning run.
“I kind of thought I was out for a second,” said Schmalshof. “But I guess (the catcher) pulled her foot off (the plate). I was confused.”
United (1-3), playing for the third straight day, threatened in the opening inning against MHS starter Kinley Sloan.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases with nobody out.
Aubrey Bainter hit a pop fly to MHS shortstop Lauren Schmalshof. The infield fly rule was called by the umpires, meaning Bainter was out.
However, Schmalshof misplayed the ball for an error and Ava Westart attempted to score from third. But Schmalsof recovered and threw home to Knowles, who tagged Westart in completing a double play.
Sloan then got Madi Edwards to fly out to Starbuck in center to end the inning.
The MHS offense came out swinging in the bottom of the inning.
Knowles singled to center and advanced two bases on passed balls before Starbuck walked.
Knowles scored on a wild pitch before Lauren Schmalshof doubled to center, scoring Starbuck to make it 2-0.
Sloan was hit by a pitch with both runners moving up on a double steal. Lauren Schmalshof scored on a wild pitch with Sloan advancing to third before scoring a single to right by Abigail Kwacala.
“Obviously coming in, everyone was a little nervous,” said Lily Schmalshof. “That (first inning) really brought our heads up and brought confidence to everyone.”
“The first game out, our timing I was very impressed with hitting-wise,” said Belville. “They got the barrel on the ball. I was happy with it.”
Macomb made it 5-0 in the second when Lauren Schmalshof’s two-out triple to right brought home Starbuck.
United scored twice in the top of the third to close the gap to 5-2.
The Bombers scored in the bottom of the fifth when a single to right by Lily Schmalshof brought home older sister Lauren to make it 6-2.
The Red Storm pulled even in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs, using three hits and two walks.
Natalie Postin had the big hit of the inning, a bases-clearing double. She would then score on a Mallory Giddings single to left.
Macomb loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Sloan and Kwacala were retired on infield pop ups to keep the score tied.
United out-hit MHS 11-8 with the Bombers committing three errors, compared to two for United.
Lauren Schmalshof had three hits, including a double and triple. She knocked two runs and scored twice.
Lily Schmalshof added two hits with one run scored and one batted in, while Kwacala had a hit and a run batted in.
Starbuck had a hit and two runs scored, while Knowles had a hit and run scored. Sloan also scored a run for the Bombers.
In the circle, Sloan allowed six earned runs on 11 hits. She struck out five and walked five.
Sloan threw 119 pitches, 65 for strikes.
With Josie Elbe currently sidelined with an injury suffered during basketball season, it will be up to Sloan to shoulder the pitching load.
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do for your pitcher,” said Lily Schmalshof. “Don’t let her throw more pitches.”
“We have to take care of our pitching,” said Belville. “We don’t have a lot of pitching. Were not deep in pitching, so when she gives us those little outs, we’ve got to make sure we take care of her in that way.”
Postin had two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored for United.
Giddings and Madi Edwards each had two hits and a run batted in.
Edwards pitched four innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits. She struck out four, walked two and hit two batters.
Ella Bernhardt took the loss in relief. She pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits. Bernhardt struck out one, walked two and hit a batter.
The Bombers return to action Tuesday hosting Liberty (2-1).
On Wednesday, MHS begins Prairieland Conference play against West Prairie/Southeastern before heading to Vermont Friday to face South Fulton.
