MINOT - The last time the Dickinson High softball team played Minot, it was in the biggest game of the year, and things didn’t go their way.
After finishing runner-up to the Majettes last spring, the Midgets started their season with a dominant showing in a non-conference doubleheader. Using seven runs in the seventh inning, the girls in orange defeated Minot 20-9 in the season opener at the South Hill Complex. In a game shortened due to cold, the Midgets downed the Majettes 17-5 in three innings in game two.
“That was nice, unfortunately, it wasn’t the (same) team as last year, so it doesn’t really, 100 percent count,” Dickinson head coach Amanda Mickey said. “But it was nice to get two wins after losing to them last year.”
Four Dickinson players had three or more hits, with three of them recording a pair of doubles.
Freshman Taya Hopfauf went 4-for-5, hitting two doubles, while scoring three runs and driving in four runs. Seniors Kennedy Kuntz, Kamryn Kuntz and Brianna Ashworth each contributed a trio of hits, combining for seven RBIs.
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The offense didn’t take any time to get going, as the Midgets plated five runs in the first. While the Majettes scored four runs in the final frame, a seven-run seventh by Dickinson (2-0) had all but sealed the victory.
“Our hitting was phenomenal tonight. We had 28 hits in 10 innings and 37 runs scored, so I’d say that’s pretty good,” Mickey said.
Minot was led by Rhone Nelson, who went 5-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. Paige Ackerman was on the bump for the Majettes (0-2), tossing all seven innings, allowing 19 hits and striking out six.
Providing support on the mound, was freshman Mataya Mortensen, who allowed 12 hits over six innings, while striking out seven and walking five. Mickey said Mortensen is nursing a quad injury though, and has been encouraged to ‘take it easy’ as she’s a valuable asset for the team.
Closing out the game, was seventh grader Ava Jahner, who gave up three runs on two walks and a hit.
Sophomore Abbey Kubas was on the mound, and according to Mickey, gave up just three hits, but walked seven.
“Our pitching definitely struggled today,” Mickey said. “Mataya just got behind pitchers. She didn’t necessarily do horrible. We had a lot more walks than we normally do. … We had about 14 walks. We just got behind in the count whenever she was throwing well. When you’re behind, you got to throw strikes down the middle and that led to some quality hits for them.”
Dickinson 20, Minot 9DHS 510 330 8 - 20 20 1M 100 121 4 - 9 13 4Mataya Mortensen (6), Ava Jahner (1) and Taya Hopfauf. Paige Ackerman and Abigail Barnum.W–Mortensen. L–Ackerman. HR–None.Highlights: DHS, Hopfauf 4-5, 2 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI; Kamryn Kuntz 3-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Kennedy Kuntz 3-5, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI; Brianna Ashworth 3-5, 2B, R, 3 RBI; Taylor Nelson 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Ali Lafond 1-5, 3B, R, 2 RBI; Emy Personne 1-5, 3 R; Mortensen 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 6 IP, 12 H, 5 R (5 ER), 7 K, 5 BB; Jahner 1 IP, 1H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 K, 2 BB. M, Rhone Nelson 5-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI; Jaycie Rostad 4-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI; Ackerman 7 IP, 19 H, 19 R (12 ER), 6 K, 4 BB.Dickinson 17, Minot 5 (3 innings)DHS 17 10 1M 5 3 2
