Jays drop pair in Minot

The long season is taking a toll on the first-year Jamestown High School softball team.

The Blue Jays struggled in about every way you can Tuesday, dropping a pair of games to Minot 22-3 and 23-1.

Errors (11) and walks were again a problem for the slumping Jays, who are in the middle of another busy week with six games in three days.

“We just need to regroup physically and mentally and get back to playing better fundamentally,” JHS coach Mike Soulis said. “It’s a long season and we’re going through some growing pains with it being our first season. We’re in a bit of a funk right now at the wrong time of year. We need to fight our way out of it.”

The tone was set early.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out in Game 1, but failed to score.

Minot then hung a 9-spot on the board in the bottom of the frame.

The Blue Jays got their three runs in third, getting singles from Kayla Thoele, Ashlie Meier and Kari Overby and a double by Kyra Dewald.

After getting eight hits in the opener, Lexie Benno limited the Jays to just one in the nightcap.

Alicia Beckman doubled home Torri Kamlitz with their lone run in the fourth.

“We have to do everything better, and the girls know that,” Soulis said. “It’s not like they aren’t trying. We’re just in a rut right now and we have to keep working at it.”

Their busy week continues Thursday with their final home game when they turn around and host Minot. On Friday they make the long haul to Dickinson to face the Midgets.

Minot 22, Jamestown 3

Blue Jays 003 00 — 3 8 5

Majettes 964 3x — 22 10 1

Kadie Anderson and Kyra Dewald. Maddie Irmen and Katie Clark. W—Irman. L—Anderson.

Minot 23, Jamestown 1

Blue Jays 000 10 — 1 1 6

Majettes 237 (11)x — 23 18 0

Kayla Thoele and Ashlie Meier. Lexie Benno and Clark. W—Lexie. L—Thoele.

— Dave Selvig

Tags: sports, jays, softball