HOWARD LAKE – The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted softball team did just what they wanted. They just couldn’t capitalize on it. In two games, the Lakers stranded 18 runners on base as they fell short in both games against Paynesville by a score of 7-2 and 5-1 Thursday night on their home field.
“Getting those hits that you need to is just part of that mental game of being a batter,” HLWW coach Carol Meyerson said. “It’s just getting that timely hit when we have runners on and we have that advantage. We have to take advantage of it.”
HLWW’s Haley Wiegert has continued to carry the load for the Lakers in the circle this season.
Despite falling short in both games, the Lakers had plenty of things they can build off of. They led 2-0 over the Bulldogs headed into the sixth inning, but not capitalizing on opportunities earlier in the game allowed Paynesville to stay within striking distance. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game, and then blew open the game in the top of the seventh with five runs to steal Game 1 away from the Lakers.
In Game 2, it was the same story for the Lakers who had multiple chances to put up a big inning, yet were held to just one run. The Lakers left two or more runners on base in four of the six innings, including leaving the bases loaded after Paynesville gave them a golden chance with back-to-back errors.
“We could have capitalized,” Meyerson said. “They were making errors at different times. Putting the ball in play, good things will always happen, and putting the ball in play at the right time is critical.”
Look for the rest of the story, as well as more HJ sports coverage, in the Friday, March 2 edition of the Herald Journal. Click here for subscription information.
For more photos of the HLWW softball team, click here.
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