While the heat canceled the week’s earlier games, the Centennial softball team was able to play in the Seward Invitational Aug. 26.
The Broncos went 1-2, getting their first win of the season against Grand Island Central Catholic by a 7-2 score.
“We played great against GICC,” Coach Tori Homolka said.
The Broncos had seven hits in the win, including two by Rylee Menze. CHS took advantage of seven Crusader errors in the game. Ava Fischer pitched all six innings and allowed six hits while striking out two.
Centennial opened the day with a 13-2 loss to Central City. Menze and Fischer had two hits each, and Fischer drove in both Bronco runs.
Savannah Horne got the start in the circle and struck out four over five innings.
In the final game of the day, CHS fell short to Elkhorn North 17-2, giving up seven runs in the first and nine in the second.
Horne was 2-2, and Menze drove in two runs for CHS.
Homolka said the season’s start has not been what the Broncos hoped for, but the team has played tough opponents.
“That will only make us better,” she said. “I’d rather play them than other teams that don’t help us.”
She has seen spurts of good play from the Broncos but they haven’t been consistent. The team is learning a lot early in the season, she said.
A couple freshmen – Meg Hoffschneider and Nya Fischer – have challenged for more playing time and pushed some of the upperclassmen, Homolka said.
She said the team is good at the plate and has good speed. The challenge will be improving the mental aspect of the game, she said.
Working around the heat has been tough since practices were moved to mornings last week, Homolka said. The Broncos would practice for an hour before school and 45 minutes in the wrestling room after.
“It was a long, exhausting week,” she said.
Centennial (1-4) lost at Aurora 11-1 Aug. 29 and will host Syracuse at Beaver Crossing Thursday, Aug. 31. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 2, the team is slated to play in a tournament at Fairbury starting at 9 a.m.
