Cougar softball breaks five-game winning streak with a tie, a win, a loss and a win

The Niwot girls softball team faced some challenges after coming off of a strong homecoming week of play. Two days after an exciting win against the Severance High School Silver Knights, the Cougars traveled north on Sept. 25 to play the same team a second time in an away game that was a make up for a rainout earlier in the season.

The emotional and challenging game saw the Cougars fall behind early before rallying back to tie the score in the top of the 7th inning. Neither team was able to muster another run, and the game was called a tie when the sun set after the 10th inning on the unlit field.

The following day the Cougars were pitted against Mountain View, which Niwot had previously beaten by a score of 15-0. This outing was similar, with Niwot prevailing by a score of 17-2 in a contest that was run-ruled after 3 innings. Freshman Camryn Legh took Kianna Butler's usual place in the circle for this game and picked up the victory. Senior outfielder Jenna Hobson had three RBIs, while Junior Madison Dodge and Sophomore Payton Johnson added two RBIs each. In addition to pitching, Legh also had 2 stolen bases in the matchup.

The next two games were some of the most challenging of the week. The first game came against Riverdale Ridge, which remains undefeated in the 4A Longs Peak League, and is ranked second in the state in Class 4A. Ultimately, the Ravens dominated the Cougars by a score of 12-2. Niwot scored one of its runs when Rutherford made it around the bases on a bunt which was overthrown at first base, and the other run came through aggressive baserunning, allowing junior Madison Dodge to score.

On Saturday, the Cougars faced the Frederick Golden Eagles, ranked second in the 4A Longs Peak League after the Ravens. The Cougars had lost to Frederick, 8-3,in the first game of the season. But this time, Niwot dominated the Golden Eagles, run-ruling Frederick 11-1 by the end of the fifth inning. Niwot's success was thanks, in part, to two home runs that resulted in six RBIs from senior third baseman Anne Booth, who went 4-4 in the game.

The win rewarded the Cougars for continuing to fight after Thursday's difficult loss. "It was so much fun, that was a big win for us," said Booth after the game. "That's probably the best I played last year, even coming back from my injury pulling my quad a week before the season started."

The team ended the week in fifth place in Longs Peak 4A, just behind Northridge. Following Tuesday's final game of regular play at home against the third-place Roosevelt Roughriders, Niwot will be heading to post-season play on Oct. 14.

Niwot Cougars 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 - 5

Severance 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron; 5 0 0 0; M. Dodge 2 0 1 1; C Legh 5 1 0 0; K Butler 4 1 2 0; J. Philofsky 2 0 0 0, A Booth 5 1 3 1; J. Hobson 5 0 1 1; A. Rutherford 6 1 2 10; M. Herrera 5 1 0 0; S. Paterno 5 0 01 1

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) T (10 7 5 4 3 10)

Mountain View 2 0 0 - 2

Niwot Cougars 12 5 / - 17

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) E. Majka 2 2 1 1; M. Dodge 2 3 1 2; C Legh 0 2 0 0; J. Hobson 2 1 2 3; Autumn Rutherford 2 3 2 1; S. Amaya 3 1 0 0, M. Herrera 2 3 1 1; S. Paterno 3 1 0 0.

Legh (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (3 2 2 1 2 4)

Riverdale Ridge 3 1 2 1 5 - 12

Niwot Cougars 0 0 1 0 1 - 2

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) Z. Cameron 2 0 0 0; M. Dodge 1 1 1 0; C Legh 1 0 0 0; K. Butler 2 0 0 0; A. Booth 3 0 1 0; J. Hobson 2 0 0 0; Autumn Rutherford 3 1 2 2; M. Herrera 3 0 0 0; S. Paterno 2 0 0 0.

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) L (4.2 11 12 10 10 5)

Niwot Cougars 4 4 0 0 3 - 11

Frederick 0 0 1 0 0 - 1

Niwot: (AB, R, H, RBI) E. Majka 0 0 1 0, Z. Cameron 4 0 0 0; M. Dodge 2 0 1 1; C Legh 3 0 0 0; K. Butler 3 1 2 2; A. Booth 4 3 4 6; J. Hobson 3 0 1 1; Autumn Rutherford 3 3 3 0; M. Herrera 4 1 1 0; S. Paterno 2 2 1 0.

Butler (W/L) (IP, H, R, ER, BB, K) W (5 3 1 1 1 6)