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The final results show a string of defeats, but the Vermilion softball team held its own during a rough home stretch despite a series of obstacles.
Down to the bare minimum of nine players for their final four games, the Ironhawks nonetheless were competitive at times in doubleheaders with division rivals Rainy River and Northland.
Rainy River, which finished second in the division, scored 13-9 and 13-5 wins over the Ironhawks in Saturday’s season finale while Vermilion gave Northland some anxious moments three days earlier in 14-9 and 8-0 defeats.
“We do all measure sports by wins and losses, and do not get me wrong, everyone including me on this team that finished with nine players wanted more wins,” said Vermilion head coach Aaron Bender. “However, the growth of this team over the season was absolutely impressive. Two girls pitching for the first time, and keeping us in games late in the season. Three position players getting back on the diamond for the first time since Little League and having true success offensively and defensively. The work ethic, and effort these girls put in was fantastic, and for me that was the biggest success this year.”
Vermilion (2-23) put Rainy River on edge in Saturday’s second game, jumping out to a four-run lead in the top of the first.
The lead didn’t hold up and Rainy pulled away in the fifth and sixth innings to secure the sweep.
Makenzie Drache paced Vermilion at the plate with three hits and two runs scored, while teammates Hannah Simchak and Amery Thiel added two hits each. Josie Anderson took the loss in the pitching circle and Tatiana Whiting had a hit and a run batted in.
In the opening game, Vermilion was within a run at 6-5 before the Voyageurs erupted late.
Lillian Luzovich and Anderson both had two hits for the Ironhawks, while losing pitcher Kyla Berger had a two-run single.
The twinbill at Northland started with an evenly- matched affair, with the game tied at 6-6 in the fourth and 9-9 in the fifth before the Pioneers scored five times in the sixth.
Simchak swung the big bat for Vermilion, going three-for-three while driving in six runs and ripping three home runs. Vermilion’s Destiny Gonzalez also had a home run and finished with two hits.
Anderson was two-fortwo in the nightcap, while Simchak and Libby Korpi both added hits for Vermilion.
