Arrows host Brookings in their home opener at the Premier Softball Complex
Even in an 11-7 loss in to Brookings in their home debut on Tuesday, Watertown High School's softball team showed some of the reasons why its off to a good start.
The Arrows (4-1 overall) battled back from 4-0 and 6-4 deficits to pull even with Brookings (2-0) before finally succumbing in a game played at the Premier Softball Complex.
"It wasn't the end results we wanted tonight but we did a lot of things really well," Watertown head coach Kelli Brinka. "The girls are doing agrat job of putting the ball in play and having very timely hits."
Watertown opened its season two weeks agp by topping Pierre 7-3 and Aberdeen Central 15-0 in games played in the Aberdeen Dome and then rolled to 19-0 and 18-2 wins over Rapid City Central and Spearfish on a West River trip over the wekeend.
Putting up a good fight
Brookings appeared to take control of the game early, using Kymber Buys' solo homer to grab a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning and increasing their advantage to 4-0 with a two-run single by Kylie Moe and a sacrifice fly by Sydney Bebensee in the third.
Watertown appeared unfazed, scoring four times in the bottom of the third on a double by Jade Lund, an error and a two-run double by Alexa Brown.
Brookings regained the lead in the top of the fourth with a two-run homer by Morgan Norgaard, but Watertown answered again with a run-scoring double by Lily Pressler and a run-scoring single by Kinsley Van Gilder.
The Bobcats finally took the lead for good in the top of the fifth, using a two-run single by Tessa Twedt, a run-scoring double by Brooklyn Benthin and a passed ball to pull ahead 10-6.
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"Brookings hit the ball very well tonight but overall I thought out fielding was pretty good," Brinka said. "We did a good job of putting the ball in front and our outfield did amazing at getting the ball in so they couldn't get extra bases."
Brown hit a solo homer that Buys had in her glove before losing control after hitting the wall in centerfield. Moe tossed 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief to put the game way.
Some final details
The Bobcats finished with 16 hits against Brown, who went the distance in the loss for the Arrows.
Norgaard and Buys each homered as part of three-hit performances. Bebensee, Moe and starting pitcher Tess Burns added two hits apiece.
Brown and Lund each collected two of Watertown's eight hits.
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The loss couldn't diminish a solid start to the season for the Arrows.
"We had a great outing over the weekend in the hills. The girls consistently put the ball in play and hit the ball hard and Alexa did a great job on the mound both days," Brinka said. "Overall, I'm very happy with the start of our season."
A stretch of road games awaits Watertown, which visits Mitchell on Thursday before making back-to-back trips to Sioux Falls to face Jefferson on Monday and Washington on Tuesday.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Early-season update on Watertown High School's fastpitch team
