36 teams geared up to compete in Bow this weekend
BROKEN BOW - Last year the Broken Bow Spirit Softball teams hosted their first Spirit of the Sandhills Softball tournament at Melham Sports Complex. There were 20 teams in all. The tournament was a big success even though the weather did not cooperate. It was a cold, wet weekend and the tournament had to be called due to the soggy fields just before the championship matches. However, the feed back from the tournament was tremendous. Several fans, coaches and umpires commented on how well the tournament was ran and a few even said it was the best run tournament that they had ever been to.
The second Spirit of the Sandhills Softball tournament is being hosted by Broken Bow this weekend, July 1012. This year there are 36 teams from across the state. There are three age brackets, 16-18U, 14U and 12U. Most of the 12U games will take place at Tyke Arnold Field until it’s time for the championship matches Sunday afternoon. The tournament will begin with three games Friday at Melham Sports Complex. Broken Bow Spirit 14U will play Cozad at 6 p.m. followed by Spirit 16-18U White playing Sandhills Sharks at 7:05 p.m. and 16-18U Spirit Blue playing Cozad at 8:10 p.m..
This tournament is going to be a little warmer this year. I think I am safe to say there won’t be any winter coats or coveralls being worn.
DYO President and Softball Director Tom Griffith stated that they are still in need of some volunteers to help take care of the fields and etc. He knows this community always comes through. The tournament last year would not have been a success with out all the volunteers and their hard work. “It was greatly appreciated,” said Griffith.
The 16-18U Spirit White team traveled to Kearney July 1 for a doubleheader to fine tune things before their big tournament at home this weekend. In the first game of the doubleheader, Spirit had trouble with getting any of their runners to find home plate as they were shut out by Kearney Krush 9-0 in 5 innings. Kearney took a 2-0 lead after the first inning. The game went scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when Kearney put seven more runners across the plate for the 9-0 win.
Kaylee Peterson of Spirit pitched four innings allowing nine hits and nine runs. She had five strikeouts and one walk.
Kate Holcomb, Lila Bloomer, Irelyn Rosfeld and Joscelyn Coleman each had one hit on the night to lead Broken
Bow in batting.
In the second game, Spirit took a 2-1 lead after the first inning. At the end of the second inning the game was tied 4-4. In the top of the fourth inning Kearney scored two runs to take the lead. Broken Bow was unable to answer as they ended up losing a heartbreaker 6-4.
Spirit out hit Kearney 6-4 but unfortunately it is the runs that count. Mya Weverka pitched the first four innings for Spirit. She allowed six runs on fourhits and struck out three.
Come out and support your Spirit Softball teams this weekend. They will appreciate it. It should be a fun, exciting and competitive tournament.