Voyageurs sweep conference games with Mesabi

By ROGER JEROME, Sports Correspondent

The Rainy River Voyageurs women’s softball team continued their climb in the Northern Division with 12-4 and 9-3 wins over Mesabi Range Community College Sunday afternoon at the Rainy River softball field.
Despite the cool weather and windy conditions, Mesabi coach Dan Zbosnik was happy to play the games. “Outside of scrimmages in twin cities domes, this is our first game of the year,” he said shortly before the opening pitch. “Up until now, our games have been either rained or snowed out,” he said.
Former Eveleth-Gilbert standout Rachel Perushek got her team off to a quick start, hitting the second pitch of the game into the gap in left center field for a double. With an infield hit and an error, Mesabi scored one run in the first inning.
The Voyageurs tied the game on a run scoring single by Amanda Clark in the bottom of the inning. In the second, they added another when Ashley Walker lined a triple to score Tasha Johnson, who had walked earlier.
The Voyageurs then blew the game open in the third inning, scoring eight runs, all after two were out. Pitcher Jenn Falk and third baseman Gina LaBlanc reached base and both scored on a Frances Horner hit. Five more hits followed and the had a 10-1 lead. “The bottom part of our lineup really extended the rally which shows the balance we have,” Voyageurs coach Dieter Humbert said.
However three consecutive hits and a hit batter brought Mesabi within 10-4. Falk then shut down Mesabi in the next two innings, recording three called third strikeouts. The Voyageurs added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to win the game by the eight run rule 12-4. At one point in the game, Falk retired eight consecutive batters. She finished the game with eight strikeouts and had no walks.
“These were conference games, and I told our team to stay focused in the second game,” said Humbert. The Voyageurs broke out to an early 4-0 lead after two innings. They scored three runs in the second inning, with the highlight being Pinette’s triple. The Voyageurs kept the pressure on by scoring runs in all but the fifth inning.
Included in that total was a three run sixth inning. Pinette singled to lead off the inning and later scored along with Falk when LaBlanc hit a two run single. LeBlanc’s hit went over third base inside the line. Falk finished the game with a flourish, striking out two of the three batters who came to the plate in the seventh inning. Falk had seven strikeouts and three walks.
“It was nice to sweep all four games over the weekend but we have to get right back at it on Tuesday,” Humbert said. They will host Northland Community College on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Hibbing Thursday at 3 p.m.

Voyageurs sweep Fond Du Lac
The Voyageurs traveled to Cloquet on Thursday for a pair of games with Fond Du Lac Community College. The Voyageurs swept the games winning game one 15-0 and game two 10-1.
Megan Pinette led RRCC from the plate in game one going 2-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI. Francis Horner went 3-3for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.
Jen Falk was 3-for-3 form the plate with three RBI and pitched a complete game shutout striking out 11 batters and giving up one hit in five innings of work.
In the second game of the day, Falk picked up where she left off going 4-for-4 from the plate with three double and an RBI while picking up the victory on the mound striking out 10 and walking two giving up five hits in six innings.
Tasha Johnson went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Amanda Clark went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
“Our hitting is just really exemplary right now,” Voyageurs head coach Dieter Humbert said. “I am just so proud of these kids. They put a lot of time in and it’s starting to really pay off.”