DEVILS LAKE — The warmest day in the Lake Region this year brought 22 mph winds along with it.
In that respect, it was a strange day at Devils Lake High School, with the temperature rising above 70 degrees yet with a roaring wind that could knock a backpack off the bleachers. Plus, the Firebirds’ softball team didn’t have its usual head coach; Courtney Loegering had to sit out due to a recent surgery. So assistant coach Jenna Windjue stepped in.
But even under a different set of conditions, the Firebirds (3-3) soared to a dominant 12-2 victory over Shanley (3-1). It gave Devils Lake three wins in its last four games, bouncing back from a 16-11 loss to Fargo Davies.
“They did a great job battling back from our loss on Tuesday,” Windjue said. “They had a goal: Come in with the mindset to win. And we did, and it was awesome. They hit the ball well. Defensively, they were very strong.”
Senior Calin Boline, who’s carried the weight at the pitcher position this season, got through six innings with very little stress. She struck out 11 in a six-inning performance.
“I was just focused,” Boline said. “I had Julia [McIvor] and Callie [Schneider] saying, ‘Just focus on throwing strikes.’ They had my back, so I believed them.”
Perhaps the shakiest inning Boline did have was the first. The wind was so forceful that batters were having to pause between pitches to wipe dust out of their eyes. The Deacons’ leadoff batter singled, then stole two bases and scored on a one-out hit.
Still, Boline struck out three in the inning. She went on to fire a 1-2-3 second, and retired six batters in a row at one point.
“I just try to throw strikes at first, and if that’s not working, go based off the wind, where the wind’s putting the ball,” Boline said. “And then go from there.”
Boline described her approach to pitching as simply wanting to throw fast. She’s also developed a trusting relationship with freshman catcher Ava Beck, feeling confident about whatever Beck signals for her to throw.
“Calin has a lot of heart and passion for the game,” Windjue said. “And she’s always going to take one for the team. She knows how to throw, and her and Ava have been working really well together.”
The Firebirds didn’t trail in the game for long, as some shoddy Shanley defense helped them respond with a three-spot in the bottom of the first. They started the frame with back-to-back singles, the latter of which bounced off the shortstop’s glove.
Julia McIvor worked a long plate appearance that resulted in a walk to load the bases. Boline struck out in her first trip to the plate, but Madison Harris hit a ball that the second baseman couldn’t handle, bringing in two runs. Another run scored on a passed ball, and Devils Lake led 3-1.
The Deacons chipped away for one in the third, keeping the game close at 3-2. But the Firebirds responded again, and extended their lead with a three-run third. Tylie Brodina tripled, and McIvor hit a well-placed bunt to drive her in. Harris and Beck each had RBI two-out hits to make it a 6-2 game.
“We’re really practicing finding the ball and swinging at strikes,” Windjue said.
Boline didn’t surrender any runs in the next three innings, allowing just one hit in each frame. She’s been the glue of this Devils Lake team, eating up most of the innings in the circle and batting in the middle of the order.
Being that it’s her last year of high school softball, she’s going out there with something to prove.
“We didn’t really lose anyone last year, so we came in with high hopes,” Boline said. “At the coaches’ poll, we ranked dead last. And we just wanted to prove them all wrong.”
As if there was any doubt the Firebirds would take this one, they added four more in the bottom of the fifth. Shanley’s right fielder had a brutal time out there, dropping three fly balls, with no help from the howling gusts. Beck hit her second RBI single of the game amidst the rally.
All in all, the wind seemed to affect Shanley a lot more than it did Devils Lake.
“We worked on some outfielding stuff yesterday, knowing it was gonna be windy,” Windjue said. “Our priority today was communication to try to fight that wind, and it paid off today.”
Brodina and McIvor led off the bottom of the sixth with hits. They both scored on an error by the shortstop, which made it a 10-run game and gave Devils Lake a run-rule win. There was no need to play a seventh inning — these Firebirds were just too good on Thursday.
Devils Lake’s busy schedule continues with two upcoming road games: one against Valley City on Friday, then another against West Fargo on Tuesday.
“We have a pretty challenging week playing both West Fargo teams,” Boline said. “So we just gotta keep focusing on hitting off faster pitchers and better defensive teams. Just gotta improve on that, and focus on the little things first.”
