The first day of competition for Milford softball and new head coach Shelly Mowinkel wasn’t a bad one, she said.
The Eagles hosted Nebraska City, Cass and Wilber-Clatonia Aug. 21 and were 2-1 on the day.
MHS started play against Nebraska City and led 1-0 after the first inning. The Pioneers took the lead with three in the third inning and extended the lead through the next three innings.
“Some first-game jitters showed up,” Mowinkel said. “We made uncharacteristic errors. I called time and said we needed to go back to the basics and get better rep by rep.”
She said the team settled down as the game progressed.
Kaitlin Kontor and Josie Hansen had the team’s two hits. Myranda Schildt and Riley Springer split time in the circle.
Mowinkel said the break between that game and then next, while they waited for the Cass/Wilber game to finish, gave the Eagles time to refocus.
Cass was Milford’s second opponent, and MHS came out firing, scoring five runs in the first inning en route to a 7-1 win.
Mowinkel said the Eagles were aggressive on the bases, which she was glad to see. That put pressure on the Cass defense and helped calm Milford’s nerves, she said.
Milford batters also calmed down in the box and recorded six hits, including a two-run double by Camille Stauffer. Maddy Cosaert was 2-3 and scored twice.
Freshman Izzy Yeackley got the start and threw six innings, striking out 10.
“It was her first varsity win. She was so excited,” Mowinkel said.
After committing six errors against Nebraska City, the Eagles had no miscues against Cass.
“I was really proud of them to be able to bounce back,” Mowinkel said.
She was also pleased to see Cosaert, a senior, take charge on the infield, keeping her teammates calm and focused.
“She’s developing into an amazing field leader,” Mowinkel said.
Milford played Wilber-Clatonia to end the day and won 11-2. Mowinkel said the Wolverines were trying a lot of different combinations, but MHS was able to score four runs in the first and five more in the third to put the game out of reach.
Schildt, a sophomore, struck out seven in four innings, and Springer struck out two in her one inning of work.
Kontor, Ayla Roth and Mekenzie Riley had two hits each, with Roth and Yeackley hitting doubles and Stauffer connecting for a three-run home run in the first inning.
“It was a good day overall. I was very pleased to see the growth of the girls,” Mowinkel said. “We need to keep working hard. We know it’s a process.”
Throughout the day, Milford started five freshmen and sophomores, with Cosaert, Schildt and Stauffer returning starters.
“To get nine girls to work together without a lot of varsity experience presents a challenge,” Mowinkel said. “Each is learning each other.”
Milford (2-1) is scheduled to host Syracuse Aug. 24 and Wahoo Thursday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. The team has the weekend off and is back in action Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Wilber-Clatonia.
