Trojanettes take control of Corner Conference softball

The Essex Trojanettes are sitting high at the top of the Corner Conference standings following some big wins this week.

Their most recent softball win came Friday night when they completed the regular season sweep of the Stanton Viqueens, defeating them in Stanton 6-3 Friday night.

Regan Burns had a double, triple and knocked in two runs as she led the way for the Trojanettes.

Skylar Ross scored two runs in the lead-off spot as she was 1-for-4 with a stolen base.

Seana Perkins, Haley Fundermann, Sara Skalberg and Mariah Johnson all picked up hits and runs in the win against Stanton.

Skalberg was the only other Essex player with multiple runs as she was 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

Fundermann got her eighth win of the season against Stanton as she tossed a complete game, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits.

On Saturday, Essex split their games in Avoca for a varsity tournament. They defeated Nishnabotna 17-3, but lost to A-H-S-T 7-1.

In the win against Nishnabotna, the Trojanettes jumped ahead 9-1 after two innings and never looked back. They scored six runs in the fifth to secure the win.

Perkins was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Kym Graham was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a double, while Regan Burns was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Last Thursday, the Trojanettes were able to win both of their games as part of a triangular invitational against East Mills and Villisca in Villisca.

Trojanettes Head Coach Denny Redel secured his 400th and 401st win during Thursday’s games.

“It’s more about the team,it’s not about me. It’s a number, but I’ve coached softball for a long time,” Redel said. “It was nice of the people of Essex to make note of it.”

Essex first defeated East Mills in eight innings, 5-4. They followed it up with a win in six innings over Villisca 15-9.

“There were too many little things we need to take care of if we’re going to compete with state ranked teams,” Redel said.

Against East Mills, the international tiebreaker was used, meaning a runner was on second base to start the inning.

Both Essex and East Mills were scoreless through three innings as it turned into a pitching duel between Fundermann and Joni Laughlin.

“For some reason, we have a hard time making adjustments with a slower pitcher. We get out on our front foot and we can’t stay back,” Redel said. “Our timing isn’t good.”

Fundermann and Essex were the first to give up the run as Essex jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

Essex tied the game, but East Mills took the lead once again during the fifth. The big inning for Essex came in the sixth when they scored three runs to take a 4-3 lead. However, East Mills stayed in the game by scoring in the bottom half, which forced the game into extra innings. Andrea Allen, Tessie Lindburg and Mariah Johnson all had multiple hits for Essex. Lindburg was 2-for-4 with two runs score. Allen was also 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Johnson was 2-for-3.

Fundermann got the win for Essex as she pitched eight innings, giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits and striking out four.

In game two, Essex played as the home team thanks to a coin flip and jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings.

Villisca was able to score two runs, but Essex responded with six more to lead 10-2.

“We just need to take care of little things defensively. Sometimes we play great and sometimes we take things for granted and we’ve got to get beyond that taking it for granted,” Redel said. “Every out is precious so when we’re on defense we’ve got to get an out.”

The Bluejays chipped away at the lead and Essex was only ahead by three runs. However, in the bottom of the fifth, Essex scored five runs to pull ahead for good.

Villisca scored two runs in the top of the sixth, but it wasn’t enough as time ran out.

Fundermann led the way by going 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Both Graham and Skalberg knocked in multiple runs for Essex as Graham went 1-for-3 with Skalberg was 2-for-4.

Perkins also recorded multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

Lindburg and Skylar Ross both had multiple runs in the Villisca win.

The games didn’t count however towards the conference record.

The win versus Stanton though puts the Trojanettes (6-1) in sole possession of first in the Corner Conference.

Essex’s lone loss for the week was last Monday at home against Lenox.

Lenox scored three runs in the seventh to get the 5-4 win.

The Trojanettes had scored four runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

Essex was scheduled to compete against Riverside in Oakland Monday. Results weren’t available as of press time.

Tuesday, Essex will be home as they host the East Mills Wolverines. The varsity game starts at 6 p.m. at Essex High School.

The Trojanettes will be back on the road Thursday when they try to complete the regular season sweep of Sidney.

Essex wraps up the week Friday and Saturday with home games.

They face Fremont-Mills Friday and take on Shenandoah Saturday.