Polar Bears Spoil Leopards Senior Night 6-4 – Softball
Jackson 6, Louisville 4
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The Louisville Leopards Varsity Softball Team fell to the visiting Jackson Polar Bears on Senior Night Friday at West Main Vet Clinic Field. With the loss, Louisville falls to an even 11-11 on the year.
Benson Goes 3-for-3
Freshman shortstop Matti Benson went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored a pair of runs to lead the Lady Leopards at the top of the lineup. Benson doubled to lead off the bottom of the third inning, stole third, and then scored on a wild pitch to chop the Polar Bears early lead in half at 2-1.
Leopards and Bears Trade Runs
The top of Jackson’s lineup answered back in the ensuing frame. Left fielder Mara Kachur and shortstop Megan DeChellis led off the fourth with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1. Both DeChellis and Kachur would finish 2-for-4 with an RBI each for the Lady Bears.
Louisville got that run back in the bottom of the fourth. Senior centerfielder Kaylee Nolte singled to center bringing home junior catcher Brooke Brendle from third to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Jackson Pulls Ahead 6-2
The Lady Leopards defense recorded two quick outs in the top of the fifth, but Jackson remained relentless at the plate. Centerfielder Sydney Wake and catcher Chloe Christensen started the inning with back-to-back singles. Right fielder Alexis Sin doubled home Wake in the next at-bat and Kachur followed with an RBI single that scored Christensen to put JHS in front 5-2.
Pitcher Sami Secrest homered to left in the top of the sixth to increase the Lady Bears advantaged to 6-2. Secrest would finish 2-for-3 at the plate for the game for Jackson.
Nolte Knocks Home A Pair in 6th
Louisville chipped away at the Polar Bear lead in the bottom of the sixth. The first two Lady Leopards batters were retired to start the inning. However, freshman right fielder Brooke Haren walked and Benson followed with a single to left field. Haren drew a throw to third and was safe on the play, which allowed Benson to alertly put herself into scoring position by taking second.
Nolte came to the plate next and reached via an outfield error. Haren and Benson scored on the play to trim the deficit to 6-4. However, that was as close as Louisville would get as neither team scored the rest of the way.
Gossett Strikes Out 6 In Relief
Secrest started for the Lady Bears, pitched 3 1/3 innings giving up 2 earned runs on 4 hits and striking out 1. Julia Gossett finished off the final 3 2/3 innings in relief, allowed 2 unearned run on 2 hits, and struck out 6 to earn the victory in the circle. Gossett also went 2-for-4 at the plate for JHS.
Jackson out-hit Louisville 14-6 for the game. Christensen matched Benson with 3 hits to lead the Lady Bears. Anna Wright and and Hannah Kemper also recorded RBIs for Jackson to open the scoring in the top of the third.
Leopards Vs. Polar Bears Softball Series
The Lady Leopards have now dropped their last two meetings with the Lady Polars Bears after winning the previous 6 games in the series prior to that. Jackson leads the all-time series 31-18, which includes a 12-10 mark when playing at Louisville.
The Lady Leopards finish the regular season 3-4 against Federal League foes.
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Louisville Honors 3 Seniors
Prior to the game Louisville honored their three senior softball players Cloie Ensley, Kaylee Nolte, and Lauren Stillwagon. Leopard Nation would like to thank these three seniors for their contributions over the past few seasons in making the Lady Leopards Softball program the powerhouse that it is. The memories formed from these seniors, especially the plays they made during their run to winning the DI state championship in 2019, will never be forgotten!
UP NEXT: The Louisville Leopards Softball Team will next host the #1 ranked team in Division III in the Youngstown Ursuline Fighting Irish on Saturday, May 8 at 11:00 AM.
VARSITY SOFTBALL BOX SCORE
POLAR BEARS 6, LEOPARDS 4
Team 123-456-7–R-H-E
Jackson 002-121-0–6-14-2
Louisville 001-102-0–4-6-1
JACKSON POLAR BEARS SOFTBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS
| Lineup | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mara Kachur | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Megan DeChellis | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Julia Gossett | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sami Secrest | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Anna Wright | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Hannah Kemper | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sydney Wake | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chloe Christensen | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alexis Sin | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ashley Hauritz | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Totals | 34 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
JACKSON POLAR BEARS SOFTBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS
| Pitching | IP | #P | S% | H | R | ER | SO | BB | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sami Secrest | 3.1 | 71 | .535 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Julia Gossett | 3.2 | 64 | .688 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 7.0 | 135 | .607 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS SOFTBALL VARSITY BATTING STATS
| Lineup | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matti Benson | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kaylee Nolte | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lauren Stillwagon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jenna Collins | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Katie Heath | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Katie Porter | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Kenzi Denzer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Shelby Mayle | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Brooke Brendle | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Kat Frase | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brooke Haren | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cloie Ensley | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Totals | 27 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS SOFTBALL VARSITY PITCHING STATS
| Pitching | IP | #P | S% | H | R | ER | SO | BB | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloie Ensley | 7.0 | 91 | .714 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 7.0 | 91 | .714 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Records: Jackson 14-5, Louisville 11-11
