Bronco softball plays through full week

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Centennial’s softball team had a full week of games, playing a triangular at Norris Aug. 21, hosting Lakeview Aug. 23 and competing in the Seward Invitational Aug. 25.

The Broncos started slowly in both games of the triangular, Coach Jake Polk said. CHS lost to Norris 3-1 and to Crete 6-4. Against Norris, the Broncos didn’t string enough hits together, finishing with three in the game, two by Aurora Junge.

“If we hold a team to three, we expect to win,” Polk said.

Centennial trailed 5-0 against Crete after a five-run first inning for the Cardinals. The Broncos fought back, scoring three in the third and another in the fourth to make the score 5-4 with the bases loaded.

Crete was able to score another run in the bottom of the fourth, Polk said.

Asia Nisly was 2-3 to lead the Broncos in that game.

The Broncos hosted Columbus Lakeview in Gresham Aug. 23 and won 11-3. Daylee Dey was 3-3 with a double and scored four runs. Shelby Ziegler drove in four, and Lilly Cast and Aly Timmerman drove in two each.

“The first four games, I thought our defense was pretty solid,” Polk said. “Thursday was some of the worst defense we’ve ever played.”

CHS committed seven errors, most of which were errant throws, he said.

At Seward, the Broncos went 1-2. CHS lost its opener to Grand Island Central Catholic 5-3, came back with a 16-5 win over Platteview and lost to Bennington 14-11.

Polk said the GICC game was similar to the games against Crete and Norris in that CHS didn’t have much pop in its bats. The Broncos only struck out three times in seven innings, but the Crusaders played good defense, he said.

The bats came to life against Platteview. Centennial notched 14 hits in four innings. CHS trailed 5-1 after the second inning but scored eight in the third and seven in the fourth to win via the run rule.

Polk said the Bronco hitters made some minor adjustments at the plate, and those paid off.

“That was a pleasant surprise to see us show our potential,” he said.

Lilly Cast and Dey each hit home runs. Dey was 2-4 and drove in four. Ziegler was 3-4, and Cast, Erika Cast, Aly Timmerman and Chaylee Tonniges had two hits each.

In the final game of the day, the Broncos faced one of the best hitting teams in Class C in Bennington.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Polk said. “We showed a lot of grit.”

The Badgers held an 8-2 lead after the third inning, but the Broncos scored eight in the fourth to go up 10-8. Polk said the hitters relaxed the second time through the order and were able to see the ball well.

Ziegler was 3-4 to lead the offense. Dey, Junge, Timmerman, Tonniges and Nisly had two hits each. Both of Timmerman’s were doubles.

The Broncos (3-5) beat Schuyler 12-0 Aug. 27, edged Aurora 5-4 Aug. 28, were to visit Ashland-Greenwood Thursday, Aug. 30, and play in the Fairbury Invitational Saturday, Sept. 1.