Maddi Rutan
Columbus North celebrated its senior night Thursday night for Kirsten Danford, Kaylee Cowan, Kayden Hofelich, Josie Lemmons, Maddi Rutan and Bailey King.
The Class 4A No. 2 Bull Dogs were led by Rutan in the circle as she threw 12 strikeouts and led them to an 8-2 softball win over county foe Hauser in the regular season finale for both teams.
“The emotion was pretty high at the beginning. We got through it as a team, and I think we did well,” Rutan said.
North (23-1-1) got the hitting started in the bottom of the third when Cowan and Summer Williams singled. Rutan smacked a two-run double and a Jets error gave the Bull Dogs a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kelsey Lovelace led off the inning with a double and scored on a Danford single for a 5-0 lead.
Rutan had a perfect game going the first three innings until it was broken up by a two-out double from Hannah Taylor. Hauser (20-7) started hitting the ball in the sixth and seventh innings. Rutan got herself out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth after Lucie Asher and Izzy Brunner both reached base on singles and an intentional walk.
In the bottom of the seventh, after North scored three runs to go ahead 8-0, Kyra Meister singled to left field, and Reagan Johnson was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Kylie Mack hit into a fielder’s choice at third base, but the Bull Dogs tried to throw to first for a double play and the throw was off, which allowed Johnson to go to third. Haylin Campbell delivered an RBI-single, and Lucie Asher hit an RBI-double.
Paige McDaniel threw five inning, allowing five runs on six hits and one strikeout. Reagan Mack came on to pitch the sixth and allowed three runs.
Rutan went the distance for North, allowing two runs on six hits and 12 strikeouts.
“First off, Maddi did a fantastic job for them tonight,” Hauser coach Andy Brunner said. “Some of our bats continued to be consistent. It wasn’t consistent throughout the game, but the girls that have been producing either took her deep in the count or put the ball in play there at the end of the game. Too little too late, but nonetheless, they didn’t just lay down and quit.“
For North, Rutan was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, and Lovelace was 1 for 3 with a double.
“I think we could have played better tonight, but I think a lot of it had to do with senior night,” North coach Ron McDonald said. “There were a lot of emotions going on out there, but Maddi pitched really good. We need to get ready for the sectional.”
For Hauser, Asher was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Taylor was 1 for 2 with a double.
“It was a good night for us, a few errors in key moments of the game hurt us. Take away that third inning, it’s a different ball game,” Andy Brunner said. “All of that being said, not the outcome we wanted, but still, the level of competition, being able to wrap up the season on a good note as far as learning moments. It was a good night.”
