This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Nicolet Loses to Homestead in Softball Regional

Missed opportunities cost the Knights in 6-3 defeat to second-seeded Highlanders

Many times in softball, the game comes down to a team's ability to push runs across the plate when the opportunity is there. Nicolet was unable to do that Thursday afternoon and dropped a 6-3 decision to Homestead in a WIAA girls softball regional contest.

The Knights' final game of the season went exactly like their regular season. They had moments were they looked really good, but yet there were also some moments where they missed opportunities.

Lead-off hitter Emily Gadzichowski jumped on the first pitch of the game and roped it down the left field line for a double. After a successful sacrifice bunt, she scored on a ground ball to the shortstop and the Knights led 1-0.

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But in bottom half of the first, Homestead took advantage of several key mistakes, including a costly error, and scored four runs.

In the top of the second Nicolet had a golden opportunity with runners on second and third and only one out. However, back-to-back strikeouts — ironically the only two of the entire game for Homestead pitcher Rachel Behnken — put an end to the scoring threat.

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The top of the sixth is where Nicolet really threatened to make some serious noise. The Knights loaded the bases with one out and after scoring a pair of runs — one on an error by the first baseman and another on a single by Edyn Herbert — brought Erin Miller to the plate with two outs and the bases still loaded. She hit a hard fly ball which would have given the Knights the lead, but Homestead center fielder Hannah Young made a terrific diving catch to end the inning.

For Nicolet, the loss ends a very tough season. The Knights finished the year 6-19 and won just three North Shore Conference games. Head coach Brad Kuehl is proud of his team's performance this season, but still feels there were opportunities that they missed.

“We had some moments where we were what I expected,” said Kuehl. “But then we let some moments get away and some games get away. It was a good fight. A 6-3 game against Homestead, nothing wrong with that.”

Homestead goes on to face Brookfield Central, which defeated Cedarburg 10-0 on Thursday.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?