Sterling, Kan. (SCWarriors.com) – The softball season came to a close with a 7-1 win and 5-4 loss against York University on Tuesday afternoon. The Lady Warriors put together the best season in the Taylor Stoltz era, finishing the season with a 21-25 overall record. A positive note as they end the season, much of the core of this team is expected to come back and only four seniors will be leaving the team. So it looks like things are trending up for the Warrior softball team.
Game 1 – Sterling 7, York 1
The game started with a special recognition for Esperanza Ammerman. Ammerman had a season ending injury a few weeks ago and got an honorary start for the final season of her senior year. Sterling got their offense going with three runs in the first inning. A two out double by Aiyana Campos scored the first run of the game. Later in the inning, Kelly Hirlas squared up on a ball and hit a single to center that scored two more runs, all with two outs. Sterling got two more in the third. Hirlas hit a triple to right that scored Campos and Hirlas later scored on a wild pitch. Sterling was ahead 5-0.
York’s lone run came in the top of the fourth, a run that Sterling matched in the bottom of the fourth. Sterling added one more security run in the sixth on a two out double by Campos that made the final score 7-1.
Alyssa Mason made her last start in the pitcher’s circle count as she pitched the complete game earning the win. She gave up just one run on three hits in the contest while striking out seven and walking four. It was a great way to send off this senior. Alexis Hillhouse, Campos, and Hirlas each had two hits. Hirlas had the triple and double and Campos had a pair of doubles. Hirlas led Sterling with three RBIs, Campos had two and Hillhouse had one.
Game 2 – Sterling 4, York 5
Sterling scored early and unfortunately gave up the lead late. They started with a 3-0 lead scoring two in the first and one in the second. Once again in the first, two out hitting scored two runs on a pair of singles delivered by Campos and Madilynn Green. The run in the second came on a well-hit single to left by the slap hitter Hillhouse, again with two outs. York got their first opportunity scoring 3 in the third to tie it up. Sterling retook the lead in the bottom of the third on another Campos double to left center field that scored Desiree Perales. Unfortunately, that was the last run Sterling could score. York tied the game in the fifth with an RBI double and the game-winning run came in the sixth when a two-out error occurred and a run came across to score. Sterling lost the game 5-4.
Perales, Campos, and Alexxis Thompson, another of Sterling’s seniors, each had two hits for the Warriros. Campos knocked in two runs and Hillhouse and Green each knocked in one each. Allie Olivarria gave up four earned runs, five overall, in a complete game effort that fell just short. She spread out nine hits and struck out seven batters and walked just two.
With the loss, Sterling’s season came to a close as they fell short of qualifying for the KCAC postseason tournament. A number of high points happened this season, including a baseline that the Lady Warriors can continue to boost higher and higher. Bringing many of this year’s team back next season gives much hope to the Warrior faithful to have their best season in a number of years.
