Ryan Paris
Student Sports Media
Ever since the Butler Grizzlies’ softball team came back from the tournaments in Texas, they have been undefeated. After their wins against Dodge City on Tuesday, March 6, the Grizzlies have defeated Northwest Kansas Technical College, Indian Hills Community College, North Iowa Area Community College, Pratt, Colby and Garden City. All of these games were in the manner of the usual double-headers.
The Butler offense was clicking over the past two weeks, with a combined 84 runs being scored in the aforementioned victories. That was certainly on display against Northwest Kansas Technical College, as 24 of those runs were scored in those two games alone. Sophomores Payton Reynolds, Alexis Reed and Kenzie Young were all credited with home runs in those games, with Young’s three-run homer being the only home run in game two of the double-header, despite 16 runs being put up on the board in that game.
The wins were not as easy to come by against Indian Hills Community College, with those games resulting in 9-6 and 6-4 finals respectively. However, the Grizzlies prevailed, with just enough offense to come away with the wins. The Grizzlies were initially down early in the first game, but a three-run homer by freshman Brianna Robinson put them ahead and seemed to give them some momentum. They eventually led 9-2 and were able to halt a potential Indian Hills comeback to end the game with the 9-6 final.
There was a scary situation in the second game of that double-header, as sophomore pitcher Maddie Siemer took a line drive to the face. Despite losing a tooth in the aftermath, she was able to walk off the field under her own power. She had only faced two batters.
The Grizzlies convincingly beat North Iowa Area Community College 9-5 and 11-3 and did the same in the first game against Pratt, shutting them out and winning 14-0. The second game was more tight, but it took great pitching for the Grizzlies to collect the win.
Freshman Megan Johnson started the game, but the win went to Siemer, who seemed to rebound nicely after her injury in the second game of the Indian Hills double-header.
After their wins against Colby and Garden City, the Grizzlies had faced Seward at home on Wednesday, March 28.