OTC to host WDC in PRC doubleheader on Tuesday

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Otter Tail Central softball team continues to hit the ball well, including outhitting Browerville 12-5 in a 7-4 loss last week, but dropped two close games to both the Tigers and Sebeka Trojans. 

After falling to Browerville on Tuesday by a score of 7-4, OTC fell to Sebeka in Park Region Conference by a score of 13-12. The Bulldogs are currently 3-9 on the season and 2-8 in the Park Region Conference.

This week OTC will host Wadena-Deer Creek on Tuesday night, before traveling to Menahga on Thursday in a pair of doubleheaders. 

Tuesday

OTC outhit Browerville by a 12-5 margin, but were unable to get by the Tigers who were able to score four runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh inning to come away with a 7-4 win.

The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when Sophie Akerman hit an RBI double to bring Kailie Robinson across the plate to score. Akerman would score later in the inning on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0 in favor of OTC.

After being kept off the scoreboard for six innings, the Tigers plated four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take their first lead of the game. After a single and pair of walks loaded up the bases, the Tigers earned a bases loaded walk to force in a run and tied the game up at 2-2 when a run scored on an error. They followed with a two-run double to make the score 4-2. 

Browerville added three more runs in the seventh inning on a pair of passed balls and an error by the catcher to make the score 7-2 in favor of the Tigers. 

OTC made a game of it late as they loaded the bases with two outs and scored a pair of runs on a Hannah Hexum two-run single to leave the score at 7-4.

Sia Olson, Lauren Hexum, Kenady Cameron, Esme Larsen and Aubrey Hexum each finished with a pair of hits in the win. 

Akerman took the loss in the circle as she went all seven innings, giving up five hits, seven runs, six of which were earned and walked eight batters. She also struck out five hitters in the loss. 

AB R H     BI

Sophie Akerman 4 1 1 1

Lauren Hexum 4 0 2 0

Sia Olson 4 1 2 0

Kenady Cameron 4 1 2 0

Esme Larsen 4 0 2 0

Hannah Hexum 3 0 1 2

Maggie Hoekstra 4 0 0 0

Aubrey Hexum 3 0 2 0

Kailie Robinson 2 1 0 0

HITTING- 2B- Sophie Akerman

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Sophie Akerman 7.0-5-7-6-8-5

Friday

OTC batted around in the order in the top of the second inning and took a commanding 7-1 lead, but ultimately couldn’t hold on as Sebeka was able to score runs in all-but one inning and came away with a wild 13-12 win on Friday afternoon.

After Sebeka took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, OTC went on a big two out rally plating seven runs, including a two-run double by Sophie Akerman and another two-run double by Kenady Cameron to make the score 5-1 in favor of OTC. The rally came to a close when Hannah Hexum hit a two-run single to put the Bulldogs in front by a score of 7-1. 

The Bulldogs would add two more runs in the third and sixth innings and another single run in the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough as Sebeka was able to score two runs in the second, three in the third, four in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth inning to come away with the 13-12 win. 

Akerman and Cameron led the way offensively for the Bulldogs with a pair of hits. Akerman finished with four RBIs in the loss. She also took the loss in the circle as she went six innings and gave up 13 hits, 13 runs of which 12 were earned, 10 walks and struck out three hitters. 

AB R H     BI

Kailie Robinson 3 1 0 0

Sophie Akerman 5 1 2 4

Sia Olson 4 1 0 0

Esme Larsen 2 2 1 0

Kenady Cameron 4 1 2 2

Hannah Hexum 3 2 1 2

Isabelle Godding 4 1 1 0

Aubrey Hexum 3 1 1 1

Lauren Hexum 0 3 0 0

HITTING- 2B- Sophie Akerman 2, Kenady Cameron, Esme Larsen

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Sophie Akerman 6.0-13-13-12-10-3