Cloquet Softball Explodes For 15 Runs In Season Opener

Apr 14

Kerry Rodd-NSO

When the Cloquet softball team took the field for their opener at Braun Park the sky was overcast, the wind was blowing and the temperature was hovering around freezing. About the only thing missing was driving snow and a dogsled from the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race. By game’s end the Jacks had pounded Superior pitching and came away with 15-5 win in just five innings.

Dalyce Gustafson led the attack for Cloquet with a double, a triple, four-runs scored and four rbi’s and that was just the tip of the proverbial ice berg (nice pun, get it?). After opening with a walk Gustafson came around to score following a double by Lizz Jezierski, who also had three hits in the game and three runs batted in. The Jacks held a 4-0 edge after one inning.

While the firm of Gustafson and Jezierski was handling the hitting chores, the pitching of Denise Rodd kept the Spartans off the board. Rodd handled the extreme cold conditions with a four-hit, two strikeout performance.

Meanwhile, Kayla Masessa, a lightning fast outfielder added three hits, three runs and three rbi’s and Alyssa Michaelson responded with a start at her new positions, first base, by bashing out two hits and scoring three times.

The win gave the Jacks a 1-0 record on the season and their second game scheduled for Friday afternoon was postponed due to cold weather.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com