FIELD TWP- Nevada Gauthier had a huge day at the plate Tuesday to drive the North Woods softball team to a 13-3 five-inning home win over Chisholm.
Gauthier singled and scored in each of the first two innings, but she really came to the fore in the third. With Zoey Burckhardt, Josie Gibson and Rory Bundy already on base, Gauthier stepped to the plate and ripped a scorcher into right field, and streaked around the basepads to beat the throw home for an inside-the-park grand slam. Gauthier picked up one more single in her final at bat.
The Grizzlies made the most of the few good pitches they had to hit, as the Chisholm hurler had trouble just finding the plate, let alone the strike zone. Conversely, Addison Burckhardt did a good job of keeping the Bluestreaks in check, helped by some outstanding defensive play behind her.
North Woods took a 1-0 lead in the first, then blew the game open in the second. The Grizzlies got a triple from Emarie Gibson and a double from Zoey Burckhardt as they pounded the Bluestreaks for five runs and a 6-0 lead.
Gauthier’s big blast made it 10-0 after three, and then Chisholm answered back with three runs in the top of the fourth. Brynn Chosa got things rolling for the Grizzlies in the bottom half of the inning with a single, Zoey Burckhardt drew a walk, and then Addison Burckhardt brought them both home with a solid double and advanced to third on the play. She scored when Josie Gibson laid down a bunt and the third baseman threw to first for the out on the fielder’s choice, accounting for the 13-3 final.
North Woods Head Coach Dee Ann Sandberg was pleased with the Grizzlies’ all-around play.
“It was good. The girls hit the ball, and we’ve been waiting for that to happen,” she said. “It’s hopefully coming around. They’ve played together for a long time.”
This year’s team is a mix of experience and youth, with seniors Gauthier, Addison Burckhardt, and Rory Bundy providing solid leadership for a squad that features three eighth graders and two ninth graders. Sandberg is excited about this crew’s potential.
“Their communication is good – a good group of girls working together, listening well,” Sandberg said. “They’ve got some strong seniors they listen to, and they want to have fun and they want to win. It’s a different group of girls, just a different mentality out there this year. They really want to win.”