The Seward Bluejays finished a tough week with the championship plaque of its home tournament Aug. 27.
“We had a great week,” SHS Coach Shawn Carr said of the softball team, which was 5-0 in competition.
The week started with a 13-5 win over York Aug. 23. Danielle Pallet was 3-3 to lead the Jays. Lovely Hibbert and Lauren Frihauf each hit home runs, and Hibbert drove in three.
Makenna Sides and Tarryn Hartman shared the pitching duties for the Jays.
On Aug. 25, SHS was in Crete to play the Cardinals and brought home a 15-8 victory. Madison Green hit a home run, and Hibbert hit two doubles while going 3-5. Belle Herring and Ava Krahulik each drove in three runs.
“They were both good games,” Carr said. “We hit the ball well. The whole team contributed.”
Seward hosted the Seward Invitational Aug. 27 and beat Centennial 13-0, Central City 3-2 and Grand Island Central Catholic 10-5 to keep the championship plaque in Seward.
SHS finished with 10 hits in the win over Centennial. Herring was 3-3, and Emmalee Herring hit a home run that ended the game via the run rule.
Seward had to come from behind to defeat Central City, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth. Dalaney Anderson hit a double for the Jays. Sides pitched all six innings for SHS and struck out four.
In the final against GICC, Seward recorded six hits, including doubles by Belle Herring, Coral Collins, Hibbert, Anderson and Karlee Baack. Anderson had four RBIs in the game.
Carr said Belle Herring and Hibbert have played very well in their first varsity games.
Sides and Hartman have done a good job sharing the pitching, he said, and both are getting better every game.
“I’m happy with the growth we’ve seen,” he said.
Seward has the luxury of three pitchers, and Carr said they’ve all bought into doing what’s best for the team.
Building depth has been important early in the season as the team has dealt with some injuries.
“That’s a testament to our numbers and our athletes,” Carr said. “They want to fill their role and be the best they can.”
After five games last week, Seward (7-2) has just one this week – a home game Thursday, Sept. 1, against Norris. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
“It’s been awesome so far,” Carr said.
