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The Vermilion Ironhawks faced some experienced teams and in the words of head coach Aaron Bender “got a little beat up” during a season-opening trip to Rochester.
Playing under a dome, the community college softball team went 0-4 and lost all four contests in lopsided fashion at Rochester’s annual Early Bird Tournament.
Host Rochester roughed up the Ironhawks 24-0 while the University of St. Mary’s Junior Varsity team blanked Vermilion 20-0 in opening day action on Feb. 23.
The following day wasn’t any easier, although Vermilion managed four first-inning runs in a 27-4 loss to Clarke College JV.
Iowa Lakes closed out the tournament with a 17-0 rout.
Bender said that in the first game “we learned that we can survive with our new pitchers. Josie Anderson and Kyla Berger both gave a strong effort on the mound with Anderson taking the loss.”
Libby Korpi broke up a Yellowjackets’ no-hitter with a fourth-inning single.
Vermilion had numerous chances against Rochester but left the bases loaded in the first, second and third games.
“It was another large loss, but improvements in every category of the game,” said Bender.
Hannah Sinchak and Makenzie Drache would each contribute with hits, including a double from Simchak in the third.
Avery Thiel and Kyla Berger each threw 2 innings, with the loss going to Thiel. Control was an issue as Vermilion pitchers combined to walk 15 batters.
Makenzie Drache ripped a two-run double while both Simchad and Destiny Gonzalez had run-scoring hits against Clarke, with Drache finishing three-for-three at the plate.
Berger would pitch all five innings striking out two, walking nine, and hitting five batters.
Vermilion ran in to a hot pitcher against Iowa Lakes although Anderson was twofor- two with a double.
Anderson also was the losing pitcher, yielding 13 hits and walking six while striking out three batters.
Vermilion is off during its spring break, returning to action in late-March.
