The clouds are starting to part for the Shawano Community High School softball team.
Due to injuries, the Hawks have yet to see the expected preseason lineup in action this season. After winning four of five to end April and open May, the Hawks’ struggles were exemplified in a winless streak that lasted nearly two weeks.
However, the roster is getting healthier and Shawano returned to the win column by defeating Clintonville 15-0 at home Friday. Saige Henning hit two home runs for the Hawks, while Courtney Ainsworth and Brianna Zook added one each.
Sydney Schreiber pitched the win, allowing only one hit and striking out four.
Shawano coach Kevin Isaacson said key players have returned and more are expected in coming weeks.
“We’ve had a season riddled with injuries, and we’re finally starting to get some of our kids back,” he said. “It’s just nice to be getting our lineup back together.”
Friday’s returner was Briana Boda, who reached base two times against Clintonville.
Isaacson said so many players missed time with injuries that the Hawks nearly needed an entirely new lineup.
“We played a game (yesterday) with four freshmen and two sophomores on the field, against a conference champion,” he said. “We’ve had to ask a lot of freshmen and sophomores to help and it’s been a challenging season for the kids.”
In addition, the schedule hasn’t been favorable to Shawano (9-12, 6-8 Bay Conference), as many of its opponents would have posed a challenge even with a healthy Hawks lineup.
“We’ve lost 12 games and 10 of them are to state-ranked opponents,” Isaacson said. “But we know we’re a talented group and as we get healthy, we’ll be right there.”
Clintonville dropped to 2-17 overall and is 2-13 in the Eastern Valley Conference.
