NHS softball team ends week with new pitching

Last Saturday's Niwot High School girl's softball double-header was something of a "wildcat" contest as the Cougars battled the Lyons Lions and the Peak to Peak Pumas. Junior Jenna Hobson and Maddie Stimack shared pitching duties both days with Hobson starting and Stimack coming on in relief.

Scoring began early in the first game, with shortstop Autumn Rutherford singling to reach base before she was brought home with the first run. After catching up at the bottom of the first inning, the Lions pulled ahead with five runs in the second inning and neither team scored in the third, while the Lions scored two in the fourth. Although Niwot scored two more in the top of the 5th it ultimately wasn't enough as the Cougars fell 8-3.

After gaining experience on the mound for her first varsity high school game, Hobson was tired but exhilarated. "It was fun, it was definitely nerve wracking, but I got used to it. I remember the first pitch, I almost fell over because of the curve in the dirt," she said.

When asked what it was like to experience her first varsity strikeout, Hobson was succinct, "Good. Really good. No, it was great," she said.

In the second game, the Cougars sprinted ahead with three runs but the Pumas matched them, and then went ahead in the second inning, scoring eight times. Hobson struggled on the mound, and relief pitcher Stimack entered in the bottom of the second inning.

After a tough inning, the Cougars came back with four runs in the top of the third, but the Niwot was still on the short end of an 11-7 score. Julia Philofsky was ruled safe in the 4th inning due to a catcher obstruction, and Rutherford got on base with a single to left. After several others reached base, Zoie Chociej hit a double to bring the score to 10. Philofsky brought Hobson home to bring the game within a single run but it wasn't quite enough for a win as Niwot lost to Peak to Peak, 12-11.

Although the Cougars had a difficult week, the team never appeared to let the challenges of the game affect their attitude. This was particularly true in the second game of the tournament when they closed what was a sizable lead to within a single run.

"The weekend was a good reminder that we still have a lot to work on to reach our goals. We hit the ball well at times, but need to be able to be more consistent at the plate," said Coach Bobby Matthews. He added, "I was encouraged by our ability to not give up and keep fighting to the end. In the second game we had a chance to win it. If we can keep that ability and add consistency, we'll be able to reach the goals we've set."

Niwot 1 0 0 0 2 = 3

Lyons 1 5 0 2 X = 8

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) J. Philofsky (LF) 3 0 0 0; A. Rutherford (SS) 3 1 2 1; Z. Chociej (2B) 2 0 0 0; Z. Cameron (1B) 1 0 1 1; J. Hobson (P) 2 0 0 0; R. Pacheco (RF) 2 0 0 0; S. Amaya (C) 2 1 1 0; S. Paterno (3B) 2 1 1 1; J. Gravelle (CF) 2 0 0 0.

Hobson (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) (L 0-1) (4 4 8 4 8 4)

Niwot 3 0 4 4 = 11

Peak to Peak 3 8 1 0 = 12

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) J. Philofsky (LF) 3 2 1 0; A. Rutherford (SS) 3 2 3 1; Z. Chociej (2B) 3 2 3 3; Z. Cameron (1B) 2 2 0 0; J. Hobson (P) 3 2 2 1; R. Pacheco (RF) 1 0 0 0; S. Amaya (C) 3 0 1 1; Navarrette (CR) 0 0 0 0; S. Paterno (3B) 1 0 0 0 J. Gravelle (CF) 3 1 3 3; M. Stimack 1 0 0 0; S. Bitterman 2 0 0 1

J. Hobson (L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) 1 2 7 7 5 0

M. Stimack (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) 2 3 5 4 5 3