Ice Cats 16/18U Opens Season in Nailbiters

The Summer Softball league started off on June 2nd for two of the three local 16/18U teams. The International Falls Ice Cats opened their season on the road against Rock Ridge where they tied game one 6-6 at Mesabi Range College. The team was down 6-0 until they made a late push in the 6th and 7th inning scoring 3 runs each inning. Alyana Koenig stepped in the circle first, the southpaw gave up five hits and six runs (four earned) over seven innings, striking out six and walking five. Alyana and Cheznee Skrien each collected two hits as Alexz Johnson and Cheznee each drove in two runs. Cammie Cronin stole three bases. Int’l Falls Ice Cats 16/18U ran wild on the base paths, accumulating seven stolen bases for the game.Game two would reverse things as the Ice Cats 16/18U built a 6-run lead in the third inning and then held off Rock Ridge’s charge for an 11-10 victory. Rock Ridge (Jeff) closed the gap by scoring on three singles, a hit by pitch, a walk, and a double. Bats blistered as the Ice Cats collected four hits and Rock Ridge tallied 11 in the high-scoring game. Payton Grashorn earned the win surrendering 11 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over six innings, striking out seven and walking five. Hattie Ulrich drove the middle of the lineup, leading with three runs batted in, the outfielder went 2-for-3 on the day. Mara Buller and Ulrich each collected two hits as the Ice Cats had patience at the plate, collecting 10 walks for the game. Miley Davis, Sylvia Valenzuela, Payton Grashorn, and Cheznee Skrien got two walks each. Buller, Valenzuela, Alyana Koenig, Kadence Schmidtbauer, Grashorn, and Ulrich each stole multiple bases totalling 18 stolen bases in the game. Int’l Falls Ice Cats 16/18U turned two double plays in the game. Next up for the Int’l Falls Ice Cats is the 14U team playing today at home against Hibbing 14U at the Rainy River College field. First pitch is at 5pm.

Game two would reverse things as the Ice Cats 16/18U built a 6-run lead in the third inning and then held off Rock Ridge’s charge for an 11-10 victory. Rock Ridge (Jeff) closed the gap by scoring on three singles, a hit by pitch, a walk, and a double. Bats blistered as the Ice Cats collected four hits and Rock Ridge tallied 11 in the high-scoring game. Payton Grashorn earned the win surrendering 11 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) over six innings, striking out seven and walking five. Hattie Ulrich drove the middle of the lineup, leading with three runs batted in, the outfielder went 2-for-3 on the day. Mara Buller and Ulrich each collected two hits as the Ice Cats had patience at the plate, collecting 10 walks for the game. Miley Davis, Sylvia Valenzuela, Payton Grashorn, and Cheznee Skrien got two walks each. Buller, Valenzuela, Alyana Koenig, Kadence Schmidtbauer, Grashorn, and Ulrich each stole multiple bases totalling 18 stolen bases in the game. Int’l Falls Ice Cats 16/18U turned two double plays in the game. Next up for the Int’l Falls Ice Cats is the 14U team playing today at home against Hibbing 14U at the Rainy River College field. First pitch is at 5pm.