Dustin White
Editor

It’s been a difficult year for both the Mandan Braves and Bismarck Legacy Sabers varsity girls’ softball teams. Going into the Tuesday, April 26, games, both teams were sitting near the bottom of the rankings for the west region, and had struggled to pick up wins. For Legacy though, that slump would end, sweeping Mandan in the double header.

Facing a blistering cold, with Legacy donning coats and spectators covering up in blankets, both teams were in for a long night. Having to adapt to the weather, a few struggles would occur.

Up at bat first, Mandan would take an early lead. With a big hit by no. 20, Maddie Vega, Mandan scored two runs, but Legacy stopped them there.

Coming back strong, Legacy would start the bottom of the first by stealing home. Building up steam, Legacy continued to inch closer to home again, stealing base after base, until they gained the chance to tie up the game.

What would start off largely as a walking game would change when Legacy, with a superb hit, which slipped through Mandan’s fingers, took the lead. Before the end of the first, Legacy would bring in another two runs, leading the game, 5-2.

Back up to bat, Mandan struggled to get back into the game. An initial pop fly to right field, leading to their first out, the Braves would be put off their game. Another two quick outs, Legacy would have the chance to increase their lead; a chance they didn’t squander.

Starting off with a two base run, partially allowed by Mandan fumbling the ball, Legacy would capitalize by stealing third and eventually home. However, the Braves would find their fire, and slowing the Sabers down, would put a stop to the growing point gap.

With a fire burning, Mandan would come back in the third with a one base hit. Legacy would momentarily quench the flames though with two outs. But with Maddie back up to the plate, she would be able to stoke the flames with a hard hit, allowing for one run to come in. It would be their only run of the inning.

Luckily for Mandan, it appeared as if Legacy was beginning to lose a bit of their steam. Struggling to get a couple of runners on base, they would be stopped in their tracks. Still leading, 6-3, the Sabers’ momentum had been diminished.

Tides Begin to Change
With Mandan being down by just three, it was still anyone’s game as they entered into the fourth inning. But the Braves would be unable to break forward. While they would be walked to first, hesitation to take second would lead them to their third out.

Legacy would not face the same problems though. Quickly pushing forward, taking second and third bases, and inching towards home, they would face a different issue. Having dressed in jackets, to protect them from the cold, Mandan would challenge Legacy’s attire, arguing that it could change the strike zone.

The tide of the game would greatly change with Legacy’s first home run of the night. Bringing in three runs, they had widened the gap, and intended to keep up the pressure.

The Sabers would capitalize on their success by taking first, with the help of Mandan having fumbled the ball. Retaking the bases, Legacy’s steam was continually building up. With another run brought it, the fourth inning was beginning to really shape up for Legacy.

However, that all nearly ended with a pop fly. With Mandan underneath the ball, they would once again see it slip through their fingers, allowing Legacy to continue on building their lead. They would bring in three more runs before the inning ended: 13-3.

Facing a 10 point gap at the beginning of the fifth, Mandan desperately tried to turn the game around. With an out right off the bat, the challenge was going to be a great one to overcome.

Recomposing themselves, and filling the bases, it soon appeared as if it Mandan could accomplish the feat. With four runs brought in, the gap was beginning to crumble. Building on their momentum, an impressive hit to deep center would drive another two runs in.

Legacy would cut Mandan’s run off there though. But the Braves, down by just four, were back in the game.

Mandan’s steam wouldn’t last long. Coming back, Legacy would begin the bottom of the fifth with a deep hit to center; a two base run. And with that, Mandan would start to slip; Legacy was walked after being beaned.

A second great hit would bring Legacy home, while also building up their momentum. A minor speed bump by Mandan, with two quick outs, wouldn’t last for long, and the Sabers would gain two extra runs, topping it off with the second home run of the night. While Mandan pushed to a third out, they were trailing, 17-9.

Puttering Out
Mandan would briefly come back in the sixth, filling the bases, and working hard to enact a change. But with a pop fly, and Legacy tripping over themselves to catch it, just to have Mandan called safe, confusion had occurred, allowing Legacy to capture a double play.

Ryne Jungling, Mandan’s Coach, would dispute the “judgement call,” but to no avail. Defeated, Mandan would follow with their third out on a fly ball, and an unhappy coach.

With Mandan seeming to be deflated, Legacy would bring in another three runs, and the Braves would call it quits. Legacy 20, Mandan 9.

Game Two
Mandan would open the second game of the night with a hit deep into right field; their first out. It was a sign of what was to come. While they would gain two runs in the first inning, their main problem appeared to be hesitation on their part.

Moving into the field, Mandan decided to take a gamble. Switching it up, with a new catcher, and placing their previous one in the outfield, they hoped to make a come back.

Instead, Mandan would walk one Legacy batter after the other. With a few good hits, and the Braves continuing to fumble the ball, the Sabers would bring in 15 runs. Mandan, falling to the pressure, would switch out their pitcher, but it wouldn’t be enough. Legacy had clinched the win.

Going into the second inning, Mandan couldn’t chisel away at the gap. Three quick outs, and Legacy was back up to bat once again. It appeared as if the first inning would repeat itself.

However, Mandan would once again change out their pitcher, to no. 15, Sierra Butler, and while Legacy would score one run, that would be all.

Legacy would end up gaining two additional runs throughout the rest of the night, one being an in field home run. Mandan, would find little success at bat. With three quick outs in the fifth, the game was done. Legacy 18, Mandan 2.