Hard hits were the order of the day on Friday as the Nishnabotna softball team easily topped Essex-South Page, 9-5.
The Blue Devils scored five runs in the second and third inning combined, then responded to a five-run third inning by the visitors with three runs in the fourth frame and one more in the fifth.
Overall, Nishnabotna had nine runs on 11 hits, five of which were extra base raps.
Amanda Miller hit a homer, walked, scored twice and had two RBI, while Clara Heitshusen posted a triple and a double and scored a run.
Leah Burkhiser had a triple and two runs scored and Molly Goltz had a double, was hit by a pitch and scored twice.
Other offensive leaders were Mel Lang, single; Amanda Brennan, single, walk and run scored; Kim Smith, single and run scored; Megan Lightfoot, two singles; and Chelsea Nebel, single.
Lightfoot pitched the win.
Coach Randy Moyer said the offense has been good for Nishnabotna because his batters have been putting in the work necessary to be successful.
“We spend a lot of time in the cage,” Moyer said. “Hitting fundamentals is what we keep doing — and having a positive attitude when we get in the box.”
In other recent action, Nishnabotna took wins over Sidney and East Mills. Capsules for those games follow.
Blue Devils 8,
Sidney 5
A five-run fifth inning helped the Blue Devils past Sidney.
Amber Miller, Leah Burkhiser and Molly Goltz all had two hits while Megan Lightfoot hit a double.
Miller was 2-for-3 with a double. Burkhiser and Goltz both finished 2-for-4.
Lightfoot pitched a three hitter with three walks and four strikeouts over seven innings.
