There was no joy in Lewistown.
Indian Lake opened the 2025 softball season with a 9-2 loss at home to Minster on Tuesday afternoon in overcast and windy weather.
Minster got a pair of runs early, then added ones in the third and fourth. The big eruption came in the fifth, as they put up five.
Indian Lake was able to get some answers, scoring once in the fourth and once in the fifth.
Freshman pitcher Bre Wisener of Indian Lake allowed 13 hits. She struck out seven and walked three.
The Lakers had seven hits, including a single and double by Izzi Mackesy, and a pair by Halle Roby. Abigail Elliott and Kit Miller each got a double.
Brooklyn Osterloh got the win for Minster, pitching six innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Addi Inskeep and Whitney Trego had three hits each for the Wildcats.
Coach John Stahl said, “This is not the start I wanted. We didn’t play well in any aspect.” He added that the Lakers left several runners on base and were unable to put the ball in play, and also committed several errors. He took responsibility for not having the team as ready as they should have been.
Minster got going right away. After the leadoff batter was retired, Rylin Trego walked and Inskeep singled to center. A dropped fly ball allowed Osterloh to reach and loaded the bases. Lauren Tyler lined a double to center, bringing two runs across. The Lakers then got the next two batters out.
Wisener led off the home half with a single to left. She stole second and took third on a groundout by Dixon. Roby beat out an infield single. She would steal second, putting both runners in scoring position. However, Osterloh bore down and got the next two batters on strikes.
After a quick second inning, Inskeep tripled to deep center to start the third. She then scored on a single by Osterloh. Tyler reached on a fielder’s choice, and moved around to third on passed balls, but was left aboard as Wisener got two strikeouts.
In the fourth, Minster first two batters were retired on a groundout and flyout. But that brought up the top of the order, and Reese Albers kept the inning going with a walk. Trego drove a ball to center. When the dust settled, Trego was on second and Albers on third.
Roby couldn’t quite come up with a diving catch on a ball hit by Inskeep, and that permitted Albers to cross and make it 4-0. A fly out to right ended the at-bat.
With one out in the home half, Annie Rapp walked, then stole second. After a strikeout, Elliott hammered one to centerfield, putting the Lakers on the board. Elliott tried to stretch it but was thrown out at third.
After a leadoff walk, Wisener recorded two outs on a force play and popup in foul ground. The next hitter put a ball that landed fair by inches along the first base line.
The Wildcats then got singles by Whitney Trego and Reese Albers, a double by Rylin Trego and finally a triple by Inskeep, all of which drove in runs and pushed the lead up to 9-1.
Mackesy started off the Lakers’ half with a singled to left. Two batters later, Miller doubled to left, and Mackesy moved up to third. A passed ball by Minster allowed Mackesy to race home.
Each team had one hit in the sixth. Minster got one hit in the seventh, a triple by Whitney Trego, but could not cash in.
In the Lakers’ final chance, Mackesy doubled along with left field line. Chloe Wade was then called out on a failed bunt attempt. Miller drew a walk, but two fly balls fell into Minster gloves to end the contest.
Indian Lake is back in action on Friday when they are set to host Riverside.
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Riverside 7, Bellefontaine 6
Riverside rallied to defeat Bellefontaine with four runs in the bottom of the seventh in nonleague softball play on Tuesday.
The Lady Chieftains scored all of their runs in the third inning. Riverside had gotten one in the second, and picked up two more in the bottom of the third, but trailed until the late comeback.
Riley Dillon pitched three innings and Keira Manahan four for the Lady Pirates, now 3-1 on the season. Dillon allowed six runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts. Manahan held the Lady Chiefs to two hits, while walking three.
Dillon had three hits, with two each by Jayden Hoffer and Miah Carman. Hoffer and Jackson had two RBIs apiece, with one each for Taylor Dillon and Carman.
For Bellefontaine, now 0-2, Joy Fogan took the loss. She went the distance, with two walks and four strikeouts.
Airiana Young had three hits and Addison Wical got two.
In the bottom of the second, Aubree Huston led off with a single. She advanced on a sac bunt by Brook Hunkler, and scored on a hit by Carman.
Bellefontaine then erupted for a half-dozen runs in the third, with multiple Riverside errors contributing to that momentum shift. Ava Dolan, Carissa Cozad, Wical and Young all had hits.
Riley Dillon singled and Emilee Robinson walked to open the bottom half. Kenna Johnson went in to run for Dillon, and she would score on a single by Hoffer. A groundout by Jaidyn Jackson produced another run.
Things moved along after that. Bellefontaine threatened, but did not score, in the sixth and seventh.
After the leadoff batter was retired for Riverside, Riley Dillon and Robinson each singled. Chloe Purtee ran for Dillon. Hoffer’s single to right scored Purtee. Robinson then came across on a passed ball.
Jackson grounded out to second, but Hoffer scored to tie the game at 6. After another walk, Taylor Dillon got the game-winning hit to center.
On Friday, Bellefontaine is at Bath, while Riverside travels to Indian Lake.