Staff writer
The Marion High School softball team lost both games Friday against Halstead in Halstead.
The Warriorswent up against ace Halstead pitcher Aubrey Vansteenburg, who allowed only three hits in the doubleheader. The Warriors were defeated 10-0 in five innings in the first game and 2-0 in the second game.
Vansteenburg was dominant, throwing seven strikeouts in the first game and 10 in the second. In as many at bats, it took Vansteenburg three or four pitches to get the K.
“A lot different speed than we’re used to,” Marion pitcher Raelene Allen said. “When you step in there it’s a little different.”
From the plate, Vansteenburg, who is more than 6 feet tall, seemed to be almost on top of the hitter when she released the pitch. If she had thrown only fastballs, Vansteenburg would have been difficult enough to hit, but when she pulled the string on a sinking changeup it mystified unsuspecting hitters. Late in the second game, Warrior batters would lay off changeups — usually in two strike counts — but because the pitch was such a dramatic change in speed, Marion hitters could not hit the fastball on the next pitch.
Marion pitchers — Allen and Alex Cain — tried to keep up with the Halstead flamethrower but the Warriors committed several errors in both games. In the first game there were two errors in the third inning, which helped tp propel Halstead to a six-run inning and a 7-0 lead on Allen.
Cain pitched nearly as well as Vansteenburg in the second game — seven strikeouts, three hits, and no walks in seven innings pitched — but Halstead scored two unearned runs in the third inning.
“We did a good job in the second game of keeping our heads up,” Allen said.