Trojan Bats Go Silent; Year Ends for Softball and Baseball Teams

BY PATRICK BROWNE
While both the Forest Park softball and baseball teams had vastly improved seasons, neither could take the next step and win their fi rst round postseason game. The Forest Park Lady Trojans softball team finished their season on June 2nd with a fi rst round playoff loss to the Baraga Vikings. Despite entering the postseason with an 11 and 7 record, the team could not battle off the much stronger opponent and lost the game 13 to 3 in five innings.
Coach Kimberly Pekarek, although disappointed with the loss, was not disappointed with the season, “Our goal was to double our wins from our first season (4) and we more than accomplished that goal. I believe next year with the strong freshmen class that is coming in and going into our third year we will be even better.”
Solo home runs by Lauren Kudwa and Delaney Wagner cleared the fence to give the Trojans a boost, but the offense was not able to generate momentum while Baraga seemed to find the holes with every swing of the bat.
“With Lauren returning as a senior and Delaney as a junior this was the perfect way for them to build confidence for next year,” the ever positive Pekarek stated, “We will be back!”
The Trojan baseball team stayed close through the first two innings of their opening postseason game (June 2nd) versus Powers North Central, but could not go further and dropped the game 17 to 2. After Forest Park scored two in the first inning and had the early lead, North Central chipped their way back into the game and then put up thirteen runs in the fourth inning.
“We dropped a few fly balls, gave up some walks and hits and before you knew it, we were well behind,” stated Coach Mike Larsen.
The Trojans ended their season with 7 wins and 9 losses. In only their second year of baseball, Forest Park was competitive and improved on their first year record of 0 and 13.
“I’m hopeful for next year, but we are losing six seniors to graduation. We have Matthew Showers coming back and he was second team All Conference, but we will definitely need kids to come out next Spring to take the seniors spots.”
The hole Sam McKissack leaves when he graduates, the only First Team All Conference player for Forest Park, has the team looking for its next leader, but as the saying goes, “There’s always next year!”