The Alcester-Hudson Cubs started their 2024 season at the Watchdog Opening Day Indoor Classic held in Sioux City on Saturday, March 23rd. The Cubs finished the day with a 1-2 record defeating Flandreau, but falling to Madison and Arlington.
Alcester-Hudson 7, Flandreau 5
The Cubs scored five times in the top of the second inning to take a 5-0 lead over the Fliers. Flandreau rallied to tie the game. They got two runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the fifth to make the score 5-5. Alcester-Hudson regained the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth. Those two runs proved to be the difference in the game.
Emma Moller had three hits, including a double, and an RBI. Jaeley Christensen had two hits, one a double. Jenna Manning finished with a double and two RBIs. Delta Pies and Paxtyn Moller both had a double and an RBI each. Sarah Ebert also had a hit and an RBI, and Elly Doering had a single. E. Moller pitched six innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on two hits and seven walks with 10 strikeouts.
Madison 5, Alcester-Hudson 2
The Bulldogs grabbed an early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning. The Cubs took the lead with a two-run single by E Moller in the bottom of the inning. Madison, however, scored three times in the top of the second for a 4-2 lead. They would add one more run in the top of the fourth inning.
E. Moller had a single and two RBIs. Emma Solberg also had a single. E. Moller pitched five innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Arlington 17, Alcester-Hudson 11
The Cardinals took advantage of seven Cub errors in their 17-11 victory. Arlington took the lead right away in the top of the first with three runs. Alcester-Hudson scored four times in the bottom of the inning for a 4-3 lead. Arlington would score two times in the top of the second to retake the lead 5-4. They had a big seven-run top of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 12-4. The Cubs had another four-run inning in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 12-8. The Cardinals would score five more times in the top of the fifth. Alcester-Hudson could only score three times in the bottom of the fifth in the 17-11 defeat.
E. Moller finished with three hits, one a double, and three RBIs. Manning had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Pies had two hits and an RBI. Doering added a triple and three RBIs. Solberg, Laney Decker, and Alexis Gray all had a single. P. Moller and Christensen each had an RBI. E. Moller pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed 10 runs, but only two earned, on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Manning pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks and three strikeouts.