MIDDLEFIELD—Normally, a coach might be upset when his team drops a 26-12 game to a rival but Cardinal’s Dennis Ikeler was as proud of his team as he has been all season. Due to injuries, the Huskies were forced to use several JV players yet still pounded out 12 hits in going the distance against Berkshire on Thursday.
“They played hard,” Ikeler said. “This was the most intense game for them that they played. I was really proud of how they played.”
Starting pitcher Jasmine Vunak again was sidelined with an ankle injury that has forced her to miss several games and starting second baseman Ashleigh Shepard missed her third straight game with a sprained game.
The injuries forced Ikeler to juggle his defensive lineup and to call up yet another JV player to fill in. Catcher Haley Adams started the game at third and later moved to second, leaving JV call-up Alissa Nevison behind the plate. Anne Rupinski took Shepard’s place at second and Delaney Leichtman, another JV call-up, started in the outfield.
“They’re a good team but my girls played hard,” Ikeler said. “We’re playing with injuries but the girls I put out there and the JV players I pulled up are doing the best they can. I’m proud of them.”
Megan Baril, who normally starts at third, pitched the first 3 2/3 innings and Courtney Ellis closed out the contest.
Baril, Dawn Scribben and Leichtman each had three hits for the Huskies and Jess Koches was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a team-high three runs batted in. Nevison also had two hits for Cardinal.
“Jess had two nice shots down the third base side for ground rule doubles. Scribben had a couple hits, Leichtman had a couple,” Ikeler said. “Everybody was making contact on the ball. I can’t complain at all. They did a good job. Everybody was up here battling offensively, even my newest JV player I had to bring up, Anne Rupinski. All in all, I’m proud of the girls and the way they played today.”
Cardinal hosts Maplewood on Friday.
