The playing conditions weren’t ideal, but the Rochelle varsity softball team was happy to get back on the field Wednesday evening, when the Lady Hubs faced Belvidere North in their first game of the season.
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BELVIDERE — The playing conditions weren’t ideal, but the Rochelle varsity softball team was happy to get back on the field Wednesday evening, when the Lady Hubs faced Belvidere North in their first game of the season.
The Blue Thunder started strong with six runs in the bottom of the first inning. While the Lady Hubs had chances to score in the middle innings, the Belvidere North offense proved too strong, as Rochelle fell by a score of 13-2 in five innings to move to 0-1 overall.
“We had some really hard-hit balls and it was nice to see the top of our order get on base,” head coach Lindsay Suess said. “Hannah [Luxton] got on base early and the girls were able to bunt her over and hit her in. It’s nice to see our girls execute in those situations.”
The Lady Hubs briefly led Belvidere North, going ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning after junior Hannah Luxton singled for Rochelle’s first hit of the season. Senior Mandi Lamb bunted Luxton over to second base, and after walks by seniors Macy Luxton and Becca Bunger, Hannah Luxton scored on a wild pitch.
Belvidere North notched six singles in the first inning to take a 6-1 lead entering the second inning. The Blue Thunder added three runs on two hits in the bottom of the second to extend their lead to 9-1. Hannah Luxton led off the third inning with a walk for Rochelle, and Macy Luxton singled to move Hannah into scoring position before she eventually crossed home plate and cut the Belvidere North lead down to 9-2.
The Blue Thunder totaled two runs over both the third and fourth innings to put Rochelle in jeopardy of being run-ruled down 13-2. Junior Abby Reish singled for the Lady Hubs in the top of the fourth inning, but Rochelle was unable to score. Hannah Luxton walked to begin the fifth inning, making it the third time in as many at-bats she reached base.
“Her goal as our leadoff hitter is always to see some pitches and get on base,” Suess said. “She did a really good job with that today.”
With Luxton on and nobody out, Lamb hit a soft line drive in the infield that was caught and turned into a double play, with Luxton being called out at first base. Macy Luxton grounded out to the pitcher to end the game. Sophomore Bella Lodico and junior Ally Reish combined for five strikeouts from the mound in the loss.
