VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The last time the Valley City Hi-Liner softball team played a game it was versus Bismarck Century on June 1st 2019 in Minot in the 3rd place game of the State Softball tournament.
Thursday, the Hi-Liners took on the Fargo South Bruins in the home and season opener at the Valley City State University Softball Complex.
Behind the compete game one-hitter by senior Hailey Schaefer, the Hi-Liners defeated the Bruins 8-0. Schaefer allowed just one hit, and infield single by Katelyn Erickson to leadoff the third inning. And a one out walk to Emma Vanyo in the sixth. But that was it. By the time the dust settled, Schaefer struck out 15 in seven innings.
Offensively, the Hi-Liners had nine hits as every starter reached base in some fashion. Valley City scored two in the second inning when the Emma’s, Langemo and Mielke each had a run producing single to give the Hi-Liners a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Erika Anderson lead off with a triple. She would score on an error by second basemen Grace Hoselton on a grounder off the bat of Lexi Leroux. Dylann Diegel added an rbi single and Langemo a sacrifice fly to give Valley City a 5-0 lead after three.
After a single, error and wild pitch, Jada Nelson was at third with no one out in the fourth. Anderson brought her in with a ground out to second. Diegel had her second rbi of the game when she drove in Leroux with a single. Mielke would get her second rbi when she doubled in courtesy runner Abby Thornton to make it 8-0,
South starter Maddie Esterby settled down after that and retired seven of the last eight batters she faced. She allowed nine hits over six innings. Five of the eight runs were earned. She walked three and struck out four with one hit batter.
Diegel was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two rbi. Emma Mielke was 2 for 2 with a run scored and two rbi. Schaefer had was 2 for 4. Emma Langemo was 1 for3 with two rbi. Jada Nelson was 1 for 3 and Ericka Anderson was 1 for 4 with a run, a triple and an rbi.
The game counted for two points in the Eastern Dakota Conference standings. Valley City is 1-0 overall and 2-0 in the EDC. South falls to 1-1 overall and 2-2 in the EDC.
The Hi-Liners are scheduled to play a two point EDC game with Grand Forks Central in Grand Forks Friday. The travel to Morris, Minnesota for a tournament.