For the Tribune
COLUMBUS
Two teams with opposite starts to the early season converged at the Columbus North Softball Complex Tuesday evening.
Undefeated Seymour came in looking to continue its winning streak to begin the season, while the Bull Dogs were looking to break into the win column for the first time. It was the Owls (7-0) that was able to maintain their spotless record and keep North (0-4) out of the win column with a 5-1 victory.
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Seymour pitcher Rachel Kaufman was dominant in the circle. She threw a complete game, allowing just three hits, one unearned run and striking out nine to get the victory.
“Kaufman is a good ballplayer,” Seymour coach Jerry Burton said. “She was second-team All-State last year, and I would expect her to make first team this year. Every time she got into a bit of trouble, she was able to come back and get out of the inning. She should have had a shutout, except me made a mistake in the last inning and gave up a run.”
The only run Kaufman gave up was unearned. A fly ball was dropped in right field, allowing North’s Brooke Bruin to reach third base. Bruin was then brought to the plate by a Peri Foust single for the Bull Dogs lone run.
On the other hand, the Owls did not exactly tear the cover off of the ball themselves, but they did enough to earn the victory. The hardest hit ball of the night was by Grace Meyer, who sent a ball over the right-center field fence for a solo home run to get Seymour on the board in the top of the first.
After being shut out for the next two frames, the Owls tacked on a run in the fourth. Carlee Robinson, who had three hits on the night, singled. Camryn Sterling then reached on an error.
Following a Kate Snook sacrifice, Jozie Nicholson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A walk to Grace Rennekamp brought home Robinson for Seymour’s second run.
The Owls then added two more runs in the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Robinson, and Sterling set the table. Following a walk, which loaded the bases, Nicholson flied to left. The throw to the plate got away from the North catcher, however, allowing Robinson to score. Sterling then scored on a ground ball to the pitcher for the second run of the inning, putting the Owls up 4-0.
Seymour tacked on another insurance run in the seventh, when Kaufman doubled and was brought home by Robinson’s third single of the night.
“We are off to a good start this year, but we have room for improvement. I am disappointed in our hitting the past two games. North did a good job, so give them credit, too. I would just like to see more consistency from hitters 1 through 9,” Burton said.