Lady Archers end regular season with 35-8 record

By: DJ McGuire
Sports Editor

On Tuesday April 25, the Lady Archers faced the Morthland College Lady Patriots in a doubleheader. The Lady Archers ended up winning both games sweeping the Lady Patriots. The first game ended in seven innings with a 7-1 outcome. The second game ended in five innings with the Lady Archers winning 8-0.

These games were also significant as they were the last regular season home games for the Lady Archers. In between the games the team recognized the two sophomores, No. 7 infielder Liz Miller and No. 11 outfielder Madison Sundling. Head Coach Kristi Swiderski praised both of her players heavily during the short ceremony.

In the first game, the starting pitcher for the Lady Archers was No. 2 freshman Kyla Blankenship. The Lady Patriots struck first scoring one run in the first inning. Swiderski admitted that Blankenship usually starts a little slow when she pitches.

“A little slow out of the gate; with this pitcher we typically take a little bit before we get on our game,” Swiderski said.

The Archers then stuck back as No. 8 freshman catcher Haley Fisher drove in Miller to tie the game at one run apiece. The lead could have been greater throughout the game but baserunning errors costed the Lady Archers some potential runs.

“Our girls are very aggressive … a lot of times they are too aggressive for their own good,” Swiderski said. “That has been a challenge for us from the beginning as trying to rein them in and we constantly have to remind them to make sure they stay within their ability.”

After Blankenship’s early struggles she dominated the rest of the game only giving up two hits, pitching seven innings, walking one batter and striking out six Lady Patriot batters.

“I don’t worry about Kyla, she’s a workhorse,” Swiderski said. “She does what she’s supposed to do. If she takes a couple innings to get going, I know our defense will have our back, but if I was a betting woman, I would bet on Kyla every time.”

The offense in the later portion of the game came alive for the Lady Archers as they scored two runs in fourth, one in the fifth and three in the sixth inning.

“I think we are really strong hitting together cause when we get the ball rolling, we get the ball rolling and once the domino effect hits we just keep hitting and hitting,” Blankenship said.

One particular highlight of the game was a defensive sliding catch by Sundling.

“I saw the ball come in and I wasn’t sure whether it was fair or foul, so I just kinda went for it and the next thing I knew it was in my glove,” Sundling said.

Swiderski also knows how her team can string hits together.

“I never count the girls out, they have come back and scored eight, nine, ten runs in an inning,” Swiderski said.

The final score of the game was 7-1 in favor of the Lady Archers.

The Lady Archers now look forward to the postseason after finishing the season with a 35-8 record. Swiderski said a huge blow in midseason is what led to the team to their great record.

“We have been a team of workers; their work ethic is incredible,” Swiderski said. “I think we were inspired halfway through the season when Cassidy Terrill was in a car accident, that shook the team up and gave us a new passion and focus towards the game.”

The team also seems very excited and ready for the postseason, according to Sundling.

“I think we are really ready and our record reflects that,” Sundling said. “The attitudes are staying up and the wins today helped us to get some motivation.”

Swiderski also believes her team is ready for the playoffs.
“Yes without a doubt, I definitely think we are peaking at the right time, I think we’ve won nine straight games,” Swiderski said.