Heat Win Districts for Third Year In A Row

The O'Neill Heat softball team took a 15-5 record into district competition and came away champions for the third straight year.  The Heat ran their record to 19-5 with four straight victories to claim the District 2-6 championship.

The opening game on Saturday morning saw the Heat taking on an experienced Albion team and come away with a 6-4 win.  Albion jumped out early, scoring three runs in the top of the first .  The Heat came back with one run in the second inning on a single by Katie Danielson and an RBI from Jessica Marvin.  In the top of the third, Desi Pinkerman led off the inning with a triple and scored on a sac bunt from Kelci Ross.  Alex Hedlund then drove a single up the middle and scored on an RBI single from Kelsey Appleby.   The Heat then scored one in the fifth on a single from Lindsey Appleby and another RBI from Marvin.  They finished out the game with two runs in the sixth on a singles from Rachel Price, Alex Hedund and another RBI from Kelsey Appleby.  Hedlund picked up the win, striking out nine and walking only two.

In the afternoon game, the Heat took on Winside and came away with a 4-0 shutout.  Pinkerman once again started the offense with a lead-off double.  She then stole third and scored on a single from Ross.  Winside played excellent defense, and kept the Heat offense in check until the fourth inning when Price and Molly Shane both drew two-out walks and came around to score on a single from Pinkerman and a wild pitch.  Price and Hedlund combined for the pitching win allowing only 1 hit and striking out 11.  Pinkerman had three hits in the game to lead the offense.

On Sunday morning the Heat played a familiar foe in Atkinson.  Molly Shane, Alex Hedlund and Desi Pinkerman each had two hits Katie Danielson had an RBI double to lead the offense.  Pitchers Price and Hedlund again combined for the win, allowing only one run and one hit in seven innings.  Defensively, catcher Kelsey Appleby played mistake free behind the plate leading the Heat to the 8-1 win.

The championship game saw the Heat meeting Winside for the second time in the tournament.  They were ready in the batter's box this time, pounding out 11 hits and scoring 12 runs.  Pinkerman, Hedlund, Kelsey Appleby, Lindsey Appleby, Jordan Mauch and Rachel Price all had at least one hit in the game.  The defense was again solid, allowing only one run on four hits, while committing one error.  Price picked up the win, striking out four and allowing no walks.

For the tournament, the Heat allowed only six earned runs in 26 innings of softball.  They committed only four errors and batted .333.   They will now move on to the Class C State Tournament in North Platte on July 8, 9 and 10.