Hawks softball go 1-1 in opening week of section tournament

Robbinsdale Cooper softball took part in the Section 6AAA tournament last week, facing Benilde-St. Margaret’s in the first round and Patrick Henry in the first elimination bracket round.

First round

Cooper opened last week with a weather-delayed 16-2 loss to Benilde-St. Margaret’s on May 22, moving them to the elimination bracket for the remainder of the Section 6AAA tournament.

The Hawks started the day with promise. Anna Delaney was hit by a pitch and walked to first, later joined by a walk for Emma Chavez. A wild pitch got both a base further before Kendall Carsadden hit a 1RBI to bring Delaney home and give Cooper an early run. There was almost more for Cooper, but the Red Knights cleaned up to keep the team to one run. Benilde-St. Margaret’s found a chance to make a statement of their own and took a 10-1 lead with a series of strong at-bats. Despite the quick change of momentum, the Hawks still had their moments defensively. Chavez had an impressive reflex catch at the mound to get an out, while the connection between third baseman, Delaney, and first baseman, Jenna Garman, was a reliable source for tags.

Cooper scored a second run in the top of the second. Both Sariya Browning and Samantha Otto hit singles, before Browning stole third and was then helped home by an RBI single from Sinthia Reilly. The Hawks attempted a risky opportunity to move up the bases and a double play by Benilde-St. Margaret’s cut the scoring short.

A few more runs did come for the Red Knights, but the remainder of the game was overall a show of defensive maturity by Cooper, who responded to a very difficult start with significantly more clinical work in the field.

Coaches Earl Pepper and Scott Childers are in their first year as the new duo leading Cooper softball. Pepper told the Sun Post that he was encouraged by the team’s ability to settle the game after a tough start, as well as the Hawks’ willingness to go for it in their at-bats.

“After that first inning, our defense got settled down and we were able to start making plays,” he said. “It’s great that we started the game swinning bats and putting balls in play shows huge growth, previous seasons we haven’t always done that.”

Garman got the job done at first consistently, while catcher Carscadden worked hard behind the plate and caught an out along the way. Delaney was strong at third base both throwing to first and getting a tag or two of her own. She also hit a double in the top of the third to add to her early run.

The work ethic was there to see, even during Cooper’s tougher moments, as Chavez continued to battle as pitcher and Browning and Nikole Pepper worked to manage Benilde-St. Margaret’s as second baseman and shortstop. The outfield made multiple catches and kept the game flowing for the Hawks.

Pepper added that the senior class has been huge for the team this season, both in helping others grow athletically as well as building mentality. Cooper’s seniors this season were Sinthia Reilley, Sariya Browning, Madisyn Pepper, Sophia Kaiser, Madi Watters, Jenna Garman, and Marie Odegaard

“We have seven seniors this season and two were brand new to the sport,” he said. “The other five have really been there to step up and teach. Not just teach mechanics necessarily, but game situatons, when to look for a throw at two or going to three instead. They’ve also been important helping keep chins up when we’re in tough games.”

Elimination bracket

Cooper recovered from a difficult start to the week with a strong 22-0 win over Patrick Henry in the first round of the elimination bracket, keeping their Section 6AAA run alive. The win means the Hawks will play in the second round of the elimination bracket the following week on May 28.