Trotters outlast Lady Lions for first win

Even in the talent-laden ranks of the Western conference fastpitch softball skirmishes, they had to break through.

Even though their roster is loaded with eighth, ninth and tenth graders, with one senior and two juniors doing their best, victory had eluded the Plains Trotters throughout the first half of the season. 

But the inevitable triumph as youth morphs into experience on the Trotters roster was bound to happen. 

This past Thursday, that group of youngsters pulled it all together offensively and upended the visiting Eureka Lady Lions 18-16 in Plains. 

The joy of the moment, which was no doubt laced with sighs of relief, was tempered two days later in an 18-3 road loss to unbeaten Troy. 

But the spark of a first win can be a powerful thing. 

“Getting that first win definitely felt good,” said Trotter's head coach Jon Zigler, who took over the program last spring. “It was the varsity program’s first win since May 16, 2023. The girls finally did that one thing I’ve been asking them to do, believe in each other”. 

In the game against Eureka, one of the surprise teams in this year’s conference chase, the Lady Lions put up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. 

But the Trotters answered those scores with four of their own in the bottom of the first, putting them up 4-2.  Eureka responded with a single run in the top of the second, cutting Plains’ lead to one. 

Up stepped sophomore Aubree Butcher, who launched a two-run home run to over the fence in centerfield, boosting the Trotter’s lead to 6-2.  The round-tripper was part of a 4-5, five RBI day for Butcher who also had a pair of runs batted in in the third and sixth innings as the two teams exchanged offensive blows throughout the game. 

Plains added to their lead in the third with five runs, giving them a 12-8 advantage after four innings as the excitement grew in the home team dugout.  The lead grew to 16-8 after a four-run bottom of the fifth by the Trotters. 

Then, joy almost turned to heartache as Eureka rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh inning, cutting the Plains lead to 18-16. 

But the Trotters put out that rally and held on for the two-run victory. 

Taylor Saner and Karrisa French had two RBIs each for the Trotters in the win, as part of a season-high 17 team hits.  Saner was 3-4 at the plate and French was 3-5.  Cooper Spurr was 2-3 and Trysten Larsen was 2-4. 

The heavy hitting by the Trotters was necessary to overcome the 4-4, four RBI day by Eureka’s Marley Neesvig, who belted a pair of home runs and two doubles for the Lady Lions. Neesvig also scored five runs to go with five runs scored by teammate Maddie Chase. 

The next day Plains traveled to Troy to face the unbeaten Lady Trojans, who took a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. 

In the bottom of the second, after Troy held Plains without a run in the top half of the second, the home team erupted for nine runs, giving them an 11-0 lead. 

Plains scored three in the top of the third, but they were the only runs the Trotters could muster off the strong Troy pitching staff.  Meanwhile, Troy plated five more runs in the bottom of the third, increasing their lead to 16-3. 

The Trojans added a pair of “insurance” runs in the bottom of the fourth, enough to end the game via the Mercy rule. 

Plains had just one hit for the game, a single by Montana Taylor, who also scored one of the Trotters’ three runs.  Spurr and Saner also crossed home plate once for Plains. 

Troy got home runs from Leslie Gravier (a long shot to center) and Autumn fisher, who had an inside the park round tripper for the Lady Trojans. 

Troy collected seven hits and got help from six Trotters’ errors during the game. 

Next up for Plains is a pair of home games today (April 22) beginning at 3 pm. The Trotters then move down I-90 for a double-header versus Anaconda Wednesday (April 23). 

    Trotters' infielder Cooper Spurr (dark coat), tags out Eureka's Marley Neesvig, who was caught off base during their game this past week in Plains.  (Tracy Scott, Valley Press)
  

    Plains' Cooper Spurr slides safely across home plate during the Trotters 18-16 win over Eureka this past Thursday in Plains.  (Tracy Scott, Valley Press)