Cougar softball heads into playoffs with a split

In the Niwot softball team’s last week of regular season games, it ended with a solid win and a close loss.

The Cougars faced off against Northridge for the last home conference game, which was also senior night, on Tuesday, Oct. 4, coming out with an 11-1 win over the Grizzlies. Although the game started off slow with no runs for either team in the first two innings, Niwot picked up one run in the third inning and exploded for 10 more in the fourth.

With Northridge only scoring one run in the fourth inning, the game was called early due to the mercy rule. Most of the Niwot lineup scored a run for the Cougars, including seniors Hailey Noterman, Grace Ladd and Madison Kunkel.

Freshman Madysun Vaughan was the only player to drive in two runs for the game. Three different Niwot players took turns in the circle throughout the game: sophomore Savannah Rafkin, Kunkel and Ladd, who pitched the most innings.

Niwot’s last conference game was against Thompson Valley on Thursday, Oct. 6, with the Cougars coming up just short, losing 3-2.

The game was slow for both the Cougars and Eagles with no runs in the first two innings. Thompson Valley scored all of its runs in the third inning, including two unearned runs, with Niwot scoring one run in each of the third and fifth innings.

Junior Aleris Law had three hits, including a triple, and scored both of the Cougar runs. Ladd, who doubled and singled, and freshman Reagan Wills were each credited with an RBI. Ladd pitched the whole game, facing 26 batters and allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out seven.