Solon baseball teams improves to 3-0

The Solon Springs baseball team improved to 3-0 with a 9-5 win over the Hurley Midgets Thursday evening in Solon Springs.

The Eagles managed just three hits, but took advantage of four Midget errors.

Solon Springs scored five runs in the first inning and then two runs in the second and third.

Kevin Zamzow had two of the Eagles’ hits and scored two runs. Caleb Utyro had the other hit along with an RBI. Cole Klinzing also scored a run and knocked in two others.

Josh Taylor was the winning pitcher, allowing three earned runs in five innings. The junior also struck out eight and walked four batters.

“Josh threw really well against a good hitting team,” SSHS coach Nathan Ahlberg said. “His ability to throw both his fastball and curveball for a strike kept Hurley’s hitters off-balance.

“Our hitters also did a great job of taking pitches out of the strike zone in the first inning.”

That’s when at Zamzow single was followed up with five consecutive walks, which scored three runs. The remaining two runs scored on wild pitches.

The Eagles are back in action at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Mellen. Friday’s game with Butternut has been postponed. Today’s game with Butternut has been postponed.

EAGEL EXTRAS: Hurley had eight hits. … Solon Springs committed three errors. … The Midgets scored two runs in the second and fifth innings and one run in the sixth.

Softball

Solon Springs fell to Hurley 14-3 in five innings Thursday evening.

Hurley jumped out to a 10-run lead after the first inning and then added three more runs in the second and one in the fourth.

Solon Springs scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning.

Hannah Hedberg went 2-for-2 with one run scored for the Eagles, and Vanessa Zeman was 3-for-3. Also collecting one hit apiece for Solon Springs were Alicia Jensen, Valary Garay, Tylor Kruse, Shayla Bornholdt and Kim Johnson.

Softball preview

Thanks to the addition of five freshmen, Solon Springs has two players to spare on its softball team this season. Experience, however, is hard to come by.

Nine of the 11 players on the team are sophomores or freshmen. Kim Johnson is the only senior returning for the Eagles, and Vanessa Zeman is the only junior.

In all, Solon Springs has just five players with significant varsity experience.

Other returning starters along with Johnson and Zeman are sophomores Valary Garay, Hannah Hedberg and Brittney Armstrong.

Zeman, who was an all-conference selection last season, will lead the Eagles pitching staff with Garay.

Solon Springs head coach Dale Rajala said he expects the Eagles’ pitching to be a strong point this year.

Freshman Alicia Jensen takes over at catcher following the graduation of all-conference player Alex Sickler.

Also lost to graduation was infielder Aileen Bowker.

The Eagles were 3-11 last year and 1-4 in the Indianhead Conference.

“We want to be competitive and improve to being a respected team,” Rajala said.

Within the conference this year, Rajala expects Drummond, Hurley and Mellen to be near the top of the standings.

Drummond, Rajala said, returns a strong group of veteran athletes, while Hurley is a traditional powerhouse.

Solon Springs Softball Roster

Vanessa Zeman Jr. P/1B

Valary Garay So. P/1B

Hannah Hedberg So. 2B

Brittney Armstrong So. SS

Kim Johnson Sr. OF

Tylor Kruse Fr. 3B

Rachel Grubbe Fr. CF

Shayla Bornholdt Fr. RF

Alicia Jensen Fr. C

Marian Skylonz So. OF

Ashley Johnson Fr. OF

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