The Belleville softball team kicked off their season with a doubleheader against Parkview on Saturday, April 4.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Wildcats were victorious 12-8.

Freshman Cassidy Heller started on the mound, pitching three innings. She faced 11 batters, and struck out one and gave up two hits with no runs scored.

"Their lineup was the same as the first game, and she controlled them well," stated Head Coach Connie Wunschel.

Ryley Helwig entered at the fourth inning to pitch for Belleville; she faced 29 batters where she struck out none, walked three, gave up 12 hits, and all eight runs.

The fourth inning was a good inning for the Wildcats offensively as Miranda O'Rourke got on base by an error and then stole second base. Taylor Wallom then had a triple to bring in O'Rourke, and Heller did a sacrifice bunt to knock Wallom in.

The team then scored seven runs over the next three innings to win the game.

"It was really nice to see the bats come alive, and the girls feel more confident," Wunschel stated.

The Wildcats lost their first game of the doubleheader 8-0.

Janelle Mathews

Junior Miranda O'Rourke slides into second base in Belleville's loss to Parkview. Belleville avenged their loss with a 12-8 win the next game against Parkview.

On the mound during the first game for the Wildcats was Heller again; she pitched the complete game, giving up 12 hits, striking out ten, and walking none.

Offensively, the team was led by Mariah Hustad with a double in the fourth inning and a single by Miranda O'Rourke in the seventh inning.

Parkview committed only two errors in this game, and Belleville had four.

"You could tell it was our first game as they were pretty nervous and not very focused on the hitting aspect. We made some poor choices when at bat by either swinging at balls over our heads, standing at the plate and watching the third strike go by, or swinging at pitches when we were ahead in the count," explained Wunschel. "We did make their pitcher pitch a lot of pitches which was a good thing. Overall, I really think we played a pretty good game as this was only our fourth time outside."