Gunnison softball scraps back against Miners

The Gunnison U14 softball team surged back to tie the North Fork Miners on June 2, despite a rocky start and poor weather at Jorgensen Park.

The Gunnison girls started the ballgame on the back foot, facing drizzly conditions from the opening pitch. Pitcher McKayla Singer started on the bump, but North Fork relied on stolen bases to drive home six runs. Gunnison showed early signs of hope in the bottom of the first. Two batters stole home to whittle away at the North Fork lead, catching up 6-2.

North Fork sprang out of the away dugout in the second and took a 12-2 lead. But the early deficit lit a fire in Gunnison batters, and the girls sent four runners across home to halve the score, 12-6. The comeback continued into the third inning, as Payton Shroeder took the mound and Gunnison thrived on lockdown defense. Despite North Fork loading the bases, Gunnison’s infield escaped the inning unscathed.

Gunnison’s offense came to life in the third, after Brynn Romero knocked home three RBIs with a double. Down by three runs, Lauren Cowan walked and again loaded the bases. Then, a wild pitch skipped past the North Fork catcher, allowing a final Gunnison runner to snatch a free trip to home plate. The final run tied the game 12-12, right before the heavens opened, and the game was called as a draw.

The Gunnison U14 softball team will return to the plate on Monday, June 9 at Jorgensen Park.

(Evan Bjornstad can be contacted at 970.641.1414.)