Imperial’s short junior softball season is over

With three Thursdays of double headers, the Imperial junior softball team’s season came to a close June 10 in Grant.
Imperial opened the night against Wallace.
Imperial nibbled into a five-run deficit the bottom of the first inning. Hayley Rusher and Anna Aragon singled to start the inning for Imperial. Both were able to come around and score.
Wallace scored to start the second inning. Marley Randall struck out three batters, leaving Wallace runners stranded on third and second.
Helped along by a single from Alyssa Schilke, Emily Randall walked and scored in the bottom of the second.
After a big top-half of the third inning by Wallace, Imperial stranded Aragon and Peyton Owens after the pair each singled.
Wallace scored one more run in the fourth and held Imperial scoreless,  handing Imperial a 3-19 loss.
Rusher led off the night cap against Grant with a single. Rusher was able to cross home plate on a triple by Owens. Owens would score, but Imperial’s turn at bat would end with Jasmine Johnson stranded on third.
Grant’s first five batters scored in the first inning. Aragon struck out two batters to end the inning.
Schilke reached third in the second inning, but wasn’t able to score. Aragon struck out one, but gave up two singles and two runs in the bottom half of the second.
Owens and Johnson singled with hits to right and left fields, respectively, in the third inning. Both would score.
Three hits and three walks helped Grant score six third-inning runs.
Imperial went scoreless and Grant scored four runs in the fourth inning of the 4-17 game.
Imperial Head Coach Denise Smith said her team was fairly young, but everyone got along well.
Smith said it would have been nice to have more games on their schedule, but other area teams couldn’t fit Imperial into their schedules or fit the right age group.
    “Summer is always challenging with other camps and family events going on. I’m glad we had a team and were able to play this summer,” Smith added.