Preps roundup: Rifle softball off to strong start
Playing a Battle Mountain team that is in its first year, Rifle’s varsity softball team took care of business on Friday, blanking the Huskies 16-0 in a three-inning contest shortened by the mercy rule.
Junior Blayke Hostettler and senior Taelia Jones combined on a one-hitter, as pitchers and Hostettler picked up her second win of the season.
The Bears jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first inning on five walks and seven hits. Senior Hailey Worton had two hits, two runs and three stolen bases in the inning to go along with an RBI. Junior Brooklynn Dennis also had two hits with two RBIs. Junior Jadyn Petree knocked a two-RBI single, and freshman Brynn Axelson laced a two-RBI triple to left field.
Rifle added five more runs in the second inning. Junior Zoe Hisel started the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Junior Hadli Diaz followed with a bunt single. Petree walked, and then Axelson lined a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly, scoring pinch runner freshman Rylan Petree. After another hit-by-pitch to Worton and walk to Dennis, junior Brooklynn Millius drove in two runs with a single. The final run of the inning came in on a bases-loaded walk by Hisel.
On the defensive side, Hostettler pitched two innings with five strikeouts. Jones pitched one inning with two strikeouts.
The victory moved Rifle to 2-0 on the season. The next game is Thursday at home against Meeker at 3:30 p.m.
— Troy Phillips
Rifle 10, Grand Junction 3
On Thursday, Rifle opened the season on the road with a 10-3 softball win over Grand Junction
Brooklyn Dennis was 2-for-3 with a solo homerun, single and walk. Blayke Hostettler pitched four innings with seven strikeouts and one earned run for the win.
Hailey Worton was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and a walk, and Emma Speakman was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Taelia Jones pitched three innings with four strikeouts and one earned run. She also had a single. Brooklyn Millius had a single and two RBIs for the Lady Bears.
Other recent preps action
Boys soccer
Thursday: Rifle 5, Grand Junction Central 1; Saturday: Vail Mountain 3, Rifle 2
Cross country (Glenwood Springs at Saturday’s Central Warrior Invitational)
3 mile (top Demons finishers) — Boys, Tanner Merritt, 33rd (18:55.94); Girls, Gracie Westphal, 16th (22:27.77)
3200 meter run (top Demons finishers) — Boys, Robert Hartman, 14th (12:37.77); Girls, Katie Junker, 34th (20:05.99).
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