Midland breaks into win column

Softball 

Midland not only broke into the win column for the first time this season, the Eagles did so a second time as well, posting a 2-0 record for the week. 

The Eagles (1-22, 2-29) got their first win with a 9-4 non-conference victory at Bellevue July 1. The Eagles scored in every inning, building a 5-2 lead through four innings and extending it from there. Midland had 11 hits, led by Allison Paulsen, who batted 4-for-4 with a triple, a double and three runs batted in. Bailie Uppena was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Taylor Bahnsen drove in two runs, and Rachelle Cole had one RBI. Cole was the winning pitcher, going seven innings and allowing five hits while striking out three. 

The Eagles picked up their second win in a row July 2 at home against Easton Valley, scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth inning and holding on for a 7-6 triumph. Cole again was the winning pitcher, giving up seven hits and striking out five. Mikayla Dosland was 1-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs. Bahnsen was 1-for-3 with a double and two stolen bases. Paulsen scored three runs. 

A second game against Easton Valley was called off due to poor weather. 

Baseball 

Postponements and makeup dates made it a hectic week for the Midland baseball team, which played six games in five days, winning two of them. 

The Eagles (14-12, 15-14) played host to Easton Valley July 1 in a Tri-Rivers Conference doubleheader, and swept the River Hawks by scores of 8-6 and 8-2. In the first game, Midland overcame Easton Valley’s four-run first inning to score eight runs in the first two innings and take an 8-6 lead. Neither team scored over the final five innings. Midland had eight hits; Alex Smith was 2-for- 3. Zain Sauser and Iziek Soper each drove in two runs. Britan Martens pitched the first four innings to get the win. Smith worked the final three and picked up a save. 

“We were able to overcome a horrible first couple of innings to get the win,” Midland coach Josh Soper said. “We pitched well but had too many errors, and then a few plays that needed to be made that weren’t. We hit well, though.” 

A four-run third inning was key to the second game win, as Martens had a big two-run double. Midland collected 10 hits. Sauer was 3-for-4, Soper went 2-for-2, and Smith was 2-for-4. Martens finished with three RBIs. Jensen Dodge was the winning pitcher, going five innings and striking out five. Wilson Buckwalter pitched two scoreless innings in relief. 

“The team played well in all areas in this game,” coach Soper said. 

On July 3, the Eagles played host to fourth-ranked (Class 1A) Calamus-Wheatland, and lost by scores of 11-1 in five innings and 7-0. The Eagles were held to two hits in the first game, singles by Brett Schoenherr and Sauer. Smith was the starting pitcher, taking the loss.

The second game was close until Cal-Wheat’s four-run fifth inning opened a 6-0 lead. Midland again had two hits, singles by Smith and Soper. Starting pitcher Warren Etten pitched four innings, allowing five hits and striking out four, but took the loss. 

“Calamus-Wheatland has two really outstanding pitchers, and we saw them both in this doubleheader,” the coach said. 

Midland then played a doubleheader at Bellevue Marquette July 5, and lost by scores of 10-9 and 6-0. The first loss was a heartbreaker; the Eagles tied the game in the top of the seventh inning on a solo home run by Martens, only to give up the winning run in the bottom half. Martens batted 3-for-4, and Soper was 2-for-3 with a double. Smith also hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Buckwalter, pitching in relief of Martens, took the loss. 

“Offensively, we did a lot of good things,” Midland coach Josh Soper said. “Defensively and pitching, we really struggled. We have had a lot of makeup games crammed together and it has cost us here lately. We played a lot of games (last) week, and it was rough on our pitching staff to say the least.” 

Midland was held to five hits in the second game. Smith went 2-for-4 with a double. Jensen Dodge and Jamison Dodge were the Eagle pitchers, with Jensen Dodge taking the loss.