Braden leads Hawks to victory over Royals

KIRKLAND – Freshman pitcher Brooke Braden served up the best game of her career Monday evening as Hiawatha defeated conference rival Hinckley-Big Rock, 4-0.

After walking the first two batters of the game, Braden dominated the Royals, allowing only two hits and striking out 17 in the shutout.

“It was kind of a good feeling because I haven’t gotten that many strikeouts in a while, or ever, actually,” Braden said. “It feels good.”

Braden had at least two strikeouts in every inning and struck out the side in the fourth, fifth and seventh.

“It feels good,” Hiawatha coach Mike Bottom said. “She’s only a freshman. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. I get to have for the next three years. It’s going to be nice.”

Braden also helped her own cause in the third inning. She scorched a triple into a strong wind, knocking in Taylor Haag, and then scored on the errant throw to home.

“I was surprised I got it, but it felt really good because I haven’t hit that good in a while,” Braden said. “I just swung the bat and I hit it.”

The Hawks (7-14, 3-8 Little Ten) scored their first runs without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the first.

Haag drew a leadoff walk and scored on an error that put Braden on first. Braden stole two bases and scored on the second error of the inning by the Royals.

Royals pitcher Allison Ryan pitched a gem of her own. She allowed only three hits and struck out 11 batters. All four runs were unearned.

“Our pitcher-catcher crew is pretty phenomenal, I think they do a great job,” Hinckley-Big Rock coach Kristy Harrod said. “But I think our team was flat.”

The Royals (2-11, 2-11) looked like they were going to strike first in the top of the first with runners on first and third with no outs, but Tomi Harrod was thrown out at home plate on a double steal and Braden struck out the next two to end the threat.

By the numbers: For Hiawatha, Haleigh Schell went 2 for 2 with a walk, and Gianna Bottom went 1 for 3. For Hinckley-Big Rock, Tomi Harrod went 1 for 2 with a walk and Abby Kuppler went 1 for 2.

Beyond the stats: The Hawks had two runners of their own thrown out at home plate. Schell was thrown out trying to score in the first inning and Bottom was thrown out at the plate in the third inning.

They said it: “Just because I strike somebody out doesn’t mean I can give up,” Braden said. “I have to just keep going, throwing as hard and as much as I can as soon as I can.”

Up next: These two teams will face off again at Hinckley-Big Rock at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.