Mohawk tops Bucyrus; day marks 50 years of softball history

SYCAMORE — On a day when the softball past was honored, a freshman with a bright future stood out.

Aubrey Gottfried, Mohawk’s freshman pitcher, showed command in the circle with an 8-strikeout, 2-walk performance in leading Mohawk past Bucyrus 6-1 Saturday in a Northern 10 Athletic Conference game.

Gottfried also smacked a double for the Lady Warriors to drive in the first two runs in the first inning.

Prior to the game Mohawk paid tribute to its 50 years of softball with a ceremony honoring past players and coaches.

Despite the pomp and circumstance, once the game started both teams were focused on business.

“We were pretty nervous about today, actually, coming into it just because sometimes that takes away,” Mohawk head coach Mindy Walton said.

“We have a pretty young group and sometimes you have all of these people and all of these things happening. We try to stay focused and keep your head inside the fence, keep doing what we’re doing and try to eliminate the background noise. They did a pretty good job of that,” she said.

“I have four freshmen starting, including my pitcher and catcher, so this is like a tournament atmosphere, and we put that spin on it. This is what we’re working for coming up to in the next week or so.”

Bucyrus scored a run in the top of the second inning and kept the game close until the sixth when the hosts scored three runs.

Freshman Addie Weber hit a bloop single to rightfield that scored Natalie Hankins. Hankins had walked and advanced to second.

Bucyrus head coach Jerry “Pudge” Hargis likes the progress his team has shown. It lost four of its first five games before turning things around the past few weeks and are 5-9 overall.

“Our kids are continuing to get better. We are a little short here and a little short there. But the kids are getting better at what they’re doing,” he said.

The Lady Red hung with Mohawk, the top team in the N10 at 10-1 and 17-3 overall.

Bell Bruss took the loss, fanning one and walking one. Kendra Blizzard came on in relief in the fifth inning.

Karlee Shull delivered two singles and Brook Dennison, Haylee Stratton and Addy Ricker had one hit apiece.

Mohawk added a run in the fifth inning after Josie Granta doubled to left, moved to third on an error and scored on a hit by Emily Brickner.

Brickner, another freshman, had three hits for the Lady Warriors.

But it was the sixth inning where Mohawk put the game away, scoring three times with two outs.

Two walks, an Allison Russell single and a third walk led to two runs. Brickner drove in the final one with a single to left field.

Next week is busy as both teams have a full slate.

“We start with Carey on Tuesday, Buckeye Central, Seneca East and a tournament game. We have another full week. I told them they have tomorrow to rest and then we’re back at it on Monday,” Walton said.

Mohawk hosts either Vanlue or McComb Thursday in Division IV sectional play.

Bucyrus faces Willard in Division III sectional at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

“That’s the next step. We’ve gotten better and better. How much better have we got? Now let’s get in the tournament and let’s play ball,” Hargis said.

“You go through life and do some things; you get better at it, and you talk about it when you get a little older. The kids get a little better at what they’re doing and associating with other people.”

Competing with the top school in the N10 gives Bucyrus reason for optimism.

“We come out and they work and work and work. We hit the ball. All the credit to the kids. I’m just the guy who brings the balls out and makes sure they got enough balls to hit. That’s a very good hitting team we played.”

Hargis met with his four seniors — Dennison, Blizzard, Hankins, and Ricker — along the first base line after the game and shared a group hug.

“We have four great seniors and it’s getting close to the end of the season. They’re great kids … if you can get a high school kid involved in something, get some buddies with them, that goes a long way in their life. I’m just here to show them the direction and let them make decisions on their own,” he said.

Box score

Bucyrus     010 101 0          1        6       1

Mohawk    200 013 X          6        8       0

WP: Aubrey Gottfried (8 SO, 2 W)

LP: Bell Bruss (1 SO, 1 W)

HR: None.

Triples: None.

Doubles: (M) Aubrey Gottfried, Josie Granata.

Multiple hits: (B) Karlee Shull; (M) Emily Brickner 3.

Records: Bucyrus 5-9, 4-9 N10; Mohawk 17-3, 10-1 N10.

Next: Carey at Bucyrus, Monday; Mohawk at Seneca East, Monday.