PHOENIX OPEN SOFTBALL ERA WITH BIG WIN

A new and historic era dawned in Avon Monday night when the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix won their first game of this inaugural softball season. And F/M/FA didn’t just win; it dominated, downing the Pirates 29-6 in a game shortened to three innings because of the mercy rule.

“Making history!” said head coach Amber Sayler, who is working with the team alongside assistants John Deckert, Kyle Weier and Jacob VonBerge, who is on staff at Marion.

The Phoenix put up 12 runs in the first inning that included a double by FHS freshman Sam Fransen that scored her sister, Cami, a junior, and FHS sophomore Erica Swensen that made it 5-0 early. Swensen and Freeman eighth grader Claire Loofbourrow also singled in that big first inning that was marked primarily by walks and errors by Avon.

The Pirates got three back in the bottom of the first, but the Phoenix piled on the runs with 11 more in the second — an inning highlighted by inside-the-park home runs from both Cami Fransen and Harli Ross, an eighth grader from Marion.

F/M/FA plated six more runs in the third inning — two of which came on a double by FHS junior Kaytlin Pankratz — that made it a 29-3 game.

The Pirates doubled their total in the bottom of the third, but it wasn’t enough to extend play and the first-ever South Dakota High School Activities Association-sanctioned softball game for the Phoenix ended in a convincing win.

Thomas, Loofbourrow and Sonia Deckert each collected two hits and Thomas led the way with four RBI for the Phoenix.

Thomas also took the hill and pitched all three frames, throwing 82 pitches. She allowed five hits, walked seven and struck out three.

Trappers

The Scotland/Menno Trappers also made their softball debut at a triangular at Tyndall on Monday. The Trappers lost to host school Bon Homme 6-4. Trinity Bietz doubled and Bailey Vitek had a hit and two RBI for Scotland/Menno. Grace Robb and Julia Buechler each had a hit..