Nielsen, Johnson throw shutouts

The Fremont High School softball team came to play Thursday night.

The Tigers shutout visiting Norfolk High School 6-0 and 9-0 at Christensen Field to improve to 4-1 on the season.

Junior pitchers Vicki Nielsen and Jessye Johnson set the pace with complete-game wins. Nielsen gave up just four hits and struck out eight batters while walking two in the opener. Johnson’s line was nearly identical in the nightcap allowing four hits and walking two while striking out five.

The Tigers scored the 9-0 shutout in game two but the Panthers did have their chances.

Norfolk stranded four runners through the first three innings and left the bases loaded in the fifth before the game was called due to the run-rule.

“I’m really relaxed out there knowing the defense can help me get out of jams,” said Johnson. “I don’t have any pressure on me even when someone is on base; I go after it just as hard as if there’s nobody on base.”

“Jessye had good control tonight and when she did get into a jam she stayed mentally tough out there,” FHS co-head coach Mike Schleicher said. “I think all of our pitchers know that they have eight other girls there to back them up.”

FHS wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the nightcap.

Jessica Spalding screamed a line drive off pitcher Stephanie Busch’s glove that landed in center field. Spalding scored when Nielsen followed with a double. Later Marissa Niday drew a walk and then scored on a Mandi Vukonich infield single to put Fremont on top 3-0.

In the second, two walks and a Norfolk error loaded the bases for the Tigers. A few late throws home for the force-out, a hit batter and an infield hit by Jena Hallstrom upped the scored to 7-0. Another throwing error by the Panthers scored two more to give Fremont a comfortable 9-0 lead at the end of the second inning.

“The girls deserve credit for working the count,” FHS co-head coach Ryan Fittje said. “We got some walks in there, was hit by a pitch and we were patient and got some hits in there too.”

On defense the Tigers came up with several fine plays. Shelby Miller snared a possible extra-base hit on the the right field line and Niday made a leaping to catch at third to rob the Panthers of a hit.

“I think we really sharpened up over last weekend,” Schleicher said. “I thought the defensive effort was there tonight.”

Nielsen led the way at the plate for FHS in game 2 ending 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Spalding was 2-for-2 and Johnson added two RBIs.

“We’re getting up to our potential,” said Johnson. “We have a lot to work on before districts but we’re gunning for state this year and we’re taking the right steps to get there.”

In the opener Krista Wearden ended 2-for-3 with a double while Spalding, Hoesing and Niday all ended with singles.

The comfort level continues to climb for the Tigers as Schleicher and Fittje try to find the perfect lineup.

“We continued to try a different lineup tonight and we feel good about that,” Schleicher said. “We can put some different pieces in place and we don’t really see a drop-off when we do that.”

Fittje warns, however, not to get comfortable after a pair of shut-out wins.

“We have the mentality that we’re not going to be satisfied,” Fittje said. “We all want to get better every day.”