Cloquet Picks Up Season Opening Shut Out

Chris Shevich-NSO

April 13

Joe Vork-NSO

The Cloquet girls’ softball team shut out Superior Monday at Braun Park, picking up a 4-0 win. Katrina Korman pitched a complete game for the Jacks on the way to her season opening victory. Alyssa Hanson and Korman each drove in a pair of RBI’s to help the Jacks secure the win on a chilly Monday afternoon.

The temperature at game time hovered around 50 degrees, but cooled off quickly. Cloquet’s offense started cool, but eventually warmed up while Superior’s remained as cold as the weather. Korman kept Superior’s bats cool by tossing a two hitter on her way to the complete-game victory. She finished the gamed fanning seven Spartan batters, not issuing a walk, and allowing only three base runners. She also completed the game tossing 85 pitches, 61 of which were strikes. It was Cloquet’s timely hitting, though, that helped lead their team to victory.

Superior mounted their only threat in the top of the 5th inning when Superior pounded out back-to-back singles. After a wild pitch, Superior had their best scoring chance of the night with runners on second and third. However, Korman retired the next three batters leaving the two Spartans stranded on the base pads. Pitching Coach Ron Tondryk commended Korman on her performance, “she was on tonight, she threw her change up for strikes and her drop ball was like it was falling off of a table”.

The Lumberjacks fared better in the home-half of the 5th inning. Shanai Paulson led off the inning with a single to right field. After a Carley Esse strikeout, Kayla Masessa also singled to right field. Alyssa Hansen then drove in Paulson and Masessa with a single to right-center field. Hanson advanced to second base when the center fielder misplayed the ball. Courtney Esse followed with a single, once again putting two Lumberjacks on base. Korman completed the scoring and helped her cause by pounding a long single to right field, which scored both Hanson and Esse. The Jacks finished the game with seven hits.

In addition to Hanson and Korman, Cloquet was paced offensively by Shanai Paulson (2-2 with a walk) and Kayla Masessa (1-2 with a walk). Courtney Esse and Dalyce Gustafson each went 1-3 from the plate.

Cloquet is in back in action tomorrow against Duluth East and Thursday the 16th, when they travel to Duluth Central.