Richfield fastpitch posts 56 runs in trio of wins

Spartans coach hopes to see the team take advantage of the opportunities

After scoring 22 runs in the opening three games of the season, Richfield’s (6-1) fastpitch wrapped up last week on an absolute tear scoring 56 runs combined over four-inning wins against Robbinsdale Cooper, Minneapolis Washburn and Fridley/Columbia Heights.

The Spartans are the lone unbeaten team in the Tri-Metro Conference at 3-0 before facing defending champion St. Anthony on Monday after this edition went to press.

Before the most recent string of wins, the outcome was in doubt late as the Spartans allowed the tying or winning runs to get on base winning the opening three games of the season by five combined runs.

“The scores were much closer than they should have been against Minnehaha Academy [6-4 win] and Visitation [9-7 win] allowed them to have the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning. We cannot get ourselves in that situation,” Richfield coach Bryan Skof said.

As for the offensive production he said, “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”

“The younger girls are developing and have youth at the JV team and that will continue to grow with some large numbers at the middle school program to grow the program but more so they need to retain things from the years they play,” he said.

Thursday’s 17-1 win at Fridley/Columbia Heights in four innings included a 3-for-3 performance at the plate by junior outfielder Addie Owens and classmate and catcher Audrey Olson went 2-for-3. The pair combined to drive in five runs as the top five batters in the order scored 11 of the 17 runs.

Audrey Olson, junior infielder Ava Scanlon, and Owens each had a triple, and freshman Taylor Nickell had a double.

Sophomore pitcher Olivia Tomlinson struck out eight batters allowing one run on two hits with five walks in four innings.

The day before Richfield erupted for a season-high 25 runs in a 25-2 win at Minneapolis Washburn.

It was another standout performance on the bases with nine different batters picking up a hit as Nickell and Audrey Olson each had a double and three hits each. Olson scored four times with Nickell and Tomlinson each scoring three runs.

Nickell also tagged the ball on a two-run home run with two outs in the first inning to build a 9-0 lead. The Spartans sent 12 batters to the plate in the opening inning.

Senior Alli Ingrebretson and sophomore Chloe Berglund each had two hits at the bottom of the order and combined to score five more runs.

Senior outfielder Lauren Davis went 2-for-2 with a triple, driving in three runs and scoring twice.

Owens was in the pitching circle, limiting Washburn to two unearned runs on two hits without issuing a walk and struck out seven batters. At the plate, she went 3-for-5 driving in five runs.

One day earlier the Spartans topped Cooper 14-4 in four innings including a 9-run third inning as 15 batters came to the plate.

Everyone in the lineup picked up a hit with four batters collecting two hits each in Nickell, Davis, Ingrebretson and Berglund. Nickell, Davis and Scanlon each had a double and Audrey Olson and Berglund each had a triple.

Senior Emily Olson earned the complete game win going five innings without allowing an earned run on three hits and two walks. She struck out five batters.

The Spartans opened the week with a tough 9-5 loss to South St. Paul on Monday. The Packers rallied for five runs in the second inning to build a 5-1 lead.

“It was disappointing to lose the game because there were several times where we just didn’t make the play,” Skof said. “When the team is telling you they are giving up an out and we can’t get it, that’s tough.”

Senior Lexi Nickell blasted a solo home run with two outs in the fourth inning to narrow the Packers lead to 7-2.

Taylor Nickell opened the fifth inning with a single before scoring on Scanlon’s triple. Scanlon came in to score on Tomlinson’s single to left field before ending the inning, trailing 7-4.

Owens and Tomlinson combined to strike out eight South St. Paul batters. Owens allowed five earned runs on nine hits with one walk in 3 2/3 innings while Tomlinson gave up two runs on two hits with two walks in 3 1/3 innings.

Senior Connection

Richfield only has five seniors on the roster this season with a larger group of sophomores and juniors finding their way through the varsity level.

Senior Emily Olson came off a winning performance in the pitcher’s circle on Thursday saying one of her favorite things to do is look at old photos, reminiscing on the years that have flown by with this group.

“We basically grew up together,” she said, noting the various changes over the years. “Going back and looking at old photos is one of my favorite things to do, going back to 8U or even t-ball. We are right by each other still in the photos.”

Alli Ingrebretson said it wasn’t limited to the softball field. “We played volleyball and basketball together, most of us, anyway,” she said as they changed the ball and field of play by the season.

“It’s gone by in a blink of an eye,” Olson said. “Even with COVID when we didn’t have a season we were itching to get back on the field.”

That was the seventh grade for this group, learning the game with the C squad before advancing up the high school program ladder to where they are now, 6-1 with a prime place in the conference race.

Being familiar with each other regardless of the season or sport has helped them collectively improve.

“Me and Bri started playing basketball when we were five, so we have a deep connection to basketball,” Ingrebretson said as Bri Olson rejoined the softball program this spring.

Over the years, several moments stand out from bonding and competition and across the different sports including softball.

As freshmen, the girls recalled the awesome team bonding while waiting for a bus to pick the team up after a game at Dred Scott Playfields against Jefferson.

“We had some fun team bonding,” Lauren Davis recalled. “We had some leg wrestling going on.”

The group has several superstitions like never stepping on the baselines and handshakes in the pitcher’s circle before each inning and after each strikeout to keep the positivity going.

Playing for coach Carmen Christian led to a lot of fond memories from the team bonding sessions to post-match meals.

“Those were some of my favorite high school seasons because we did so much bonding,” Ingrebretson said as she was the team hair braider and continued with the softball team on bus rides or in the dugout. “We are with each other all year, every sports season all year it’s the same group of people and even if we don’t play together we come to support them.”

With the 6-1 start to the season, Ingrebretson said that once they get the bats working, “Usually there isn’t much stopping us to string a few hits together,” she said.

“It might take a few innings but once we get into the groove of things we can take it from there,” Olson said.

Olson and Owens work well together, despite their age group difference. They were both on JV when Olson was a freshman and Owens an eighth grader.

“It’s been so helpful because we have similar calls and tell each other what is working or what she is seeing,” Olson said as the pair help each other out to keep the damage to a minimum.