May 2, 2007
Duluth Journal

Hunters stun previously-unbeaten Hawks in softball

Scratch Hermantown from a short list of unbeatens in local high school softball.
Denfeld defeated the Hawks 6-3 on Tuesday at Wade Fields, handing Hermantown its first loss in 10 games.

Laura Bellamy scattered six hits and fanned three as the Hunters improved to 8-4.

“It was a great win for our kids,” Denfeld Coach Dick Swanson said in an e-mail message Wednesday. “To strive to be the best you have to beat the best and Hermantown is the level of team with which we want to compete. Hermantown has pretty much defined fastpitch softball in the northern half of Minnesota for the past 10-12 years, and coach (Tom) Bang is very deservedly considered the ‘dean’ of fastpitch coaches in the area. Hermantown is always at the top of the Lake Superior Conference.”

Denfeld trailed 3-0 but fought back.

“Laura Bellamy didn’t have her best stuff but battled all the way,” Swanson said. “Seeing seniors Croger, Talbot, Ridgewell and Lowe come through was rewarding. Erin Ridgewell hit a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to drive in the winning run. Molly Talbot had two hits and two RBI, Tanya Croger was on base all day and played a steady third base having to move there from center field when starter Brittany Yagoda got hit in the head during batting practice. Jenny Lowe played a very solid shortstop and made several key plays as did second baseman Jena Dieryck.

“I told Laura bellamy that I had brown hair the last time we beat them — and she said, ‘Oh, so then we’ve never beaten them?’ We hope this will give us some positive momentum.”