BROOKINGS The Brookings Bobcats are coming down the final stretch of the regular season, but for six seniors, its the final stretch of their high school career.
Addison Sneer, Kylie Moe, Megan Wadsworth, Sydney Bebensee, Tessa Twedt and Brooklyn Benthin were honored before the Bobcats 13-2 loss to Harrisburg at the Southbrook Softball Field on Monday afternoon. While their attention is focused on making a final run, they also are taking time to live in the moment.
Senior day is so important, Brookings head coach Emma Hardin said. I think that meant a lot. These girls helped us build the program when we went to the state tournament last year and were a big part in our ESD championship and state runner-up finish and its going to be a tough loss without them next year.
The game began with Harrisburg scoring a run on an error in the first inning but the Bobcats responded when Moe drew a one-out walk and later scored on an RBI single by Kymber Buys.
Moe continued to keep Brookings in the game with a 1-2-3 second inning but Harrisburg found its stride by scoring four runs in the top of the third inning on Madelyn Duchenauxs steal of home, an RBI single by Jayci Olson and a two-run homer by Macy Bryant.
The Tigers broke the game open with RBI doubles by Ava Gross and Ducheneaux, an RBI single by Dessa Bryant and scored again when Tess Burns hit Alexis Fey with a pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the third inning. Burns got the run back in the bottom half of the third with a solo home run but H Boer hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to invoke the 10-run rule after five innings.
Moe started the game allowing 10 runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk while Burns pitched the final two innings allowing three runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks. Twedt also went 1-for-2 with a double.
While the result was disappointing, Hardin believed there was some value in seeing Harrisburg, who was second in the Class AA standings with a 13-2 record entering Monday night, as the Bobcats head down the stretch.
I think it shows that theyre a great team, Hardin said. They have great pitching, theyre great hitters and they jump on great pitches. I think it kind of showed what we need to do as a pitching staff but it also showed us that we need to jump on great pitches because theyre not going to always give them to us.
Hardin also saw several positives from her team despite the loss.
I think we had great balance and we played great defense, Hardin said. We did some great things like getting lead outs and tracking down some balls in the outfield and they put the ball in play so it made our defense work a little bit. We did some great things but we also know we have some things to work on.
It gives the Bobcats a final opportunity to put those lessons into action as they head west for a three-game road trip to close the regular season. Brookings, now 7-6 on the season, will play Sturgis and Spearfish as part of a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday and face Rapid City Stevens in their final game at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
All three games give the Bobcats a chance for momentum heading down the stretch but its a different feeling for the senior class. It was apparent when five of the six seniors including Addison Sneer, who has been out with an injury, took the field for the opening pitch on Monday afternoon.
When Sneer left the game, it was another moment that the Bobcat seniors wont forget and something theyll keep in mind over the closing weeks.
We had Addison out there for a pitch and that meant a lot to her out there, Hardin said. I got chills when she ran off the field but when youre a senior, I think the entire season you just cherish every moment.
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