Redhawk softball players and cousins Kinsley Even and Lydia Taylor pictured with their home run balls following North Tama’s sixth win of the season which took place in Traer against South Tama last Friday, June 23. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA TAYLOR/FACEBOOK

TRAER – First year head coach Madonna Merchant isn’t entirely sure when the last time Redhawk softball claimed three Ws inside of one week but the fact that her team has done so plus managed to rack up more wins this season – six as of Monday – than the last three combined, is certainly proof the culture change she and assistant coach Kami Roth have been working to foster appears to be paying dividends on the ball diamond.

“The program is definitely going in a positive direction for sure,” Merchant said this past Monday ahead of the final week of regular season play. “I am really proud of all these girls for working hard daily in practice, and for trying to apply what Coach Roth and I are teaching in practice.”

The team started the week of Monday, June 19 with a 3-10 record having beat Baxter twice and Janesville once earlier in the season. North Tama began its triple-win week on the road against Dunkerton that Monday, slapping down the Raiders 24-14 under starting pitcher Sydnee Bliss who in six innings struck out five, allowed 10 hits and 14 runs (four earned) while walking four.

At bat, the Redhawks notched 19 RBIs against the Raiders – four apiece from Bliss and Gabriella Seda, three apiece from Larissa Morrison and Addison Hochstetler, two from Adi Fuller, and one apiece from Violet Seda, Kinsley Even, and Lydia Taylor.

Following a tough 10-0 shutout loss at home to Riceville two days later on Wednesday during which Gabriella Seda put up the team’s lone hit, the Redhawks came back the next day to claim win No. 2 for the week on home turf against BCLUW – stamping out the Comets 7-2 after previously losing 11-2 to the team less than a month prior on May 31.

The Redhawk softball team pictured on June 14 following their 10-9 win over Janesville at home. As of this past Monday, the Redhawks were 6-11 on the 2022-23 season. PHOTO COURTESY OF MADONNA MERCHANT

Bliss again claimed the win for the Redhawks, pitching all seven innings and striking out seven while only allowing three hits, two runs both earned, and four walks. At bat, Bliss was also the leader going 1-for-3 to knock in two runs on a single. Gabriella Seda, Hochstetler, Kinsely Even, and Larissa Morrison each contributed another RBI with Even and Morrison both hitting doubles.

The team’s third win of the week came calling the very next day — Friday against South Tama and again in front of the hometown crowd.

The Redhawks made quick, decisive work of the Trojans, winning 13-1 in just 50 minutes for the team’s sixth win of the season.

Bliss struck out six in her no-hitter from the circle, allowing one unearned run while hitting two batters.

Kinsley Even, Hochstetler, Lydia Taylor, and Gabby Velasco had two hits apiece to pace North Tama’s offense. Even and Taylor both homered for the Redhawks, Gabriella Seda tripled and drove in two runs, while Hochstetler hit a double.

The whirlwind trio of wins last week were hard-earned by the girls in practice, Merchant said.

“One of the biggest changes that recently has happened is bat size and swing speed being addressed. I believe it has helped our offensive output. Every day we do fundamental reps, which is also paying off on our defensive end. We are understanding the need for structure and discipline within our system, which has helped eliminate errors.”

As the team’s trajectory continues to rise in the regular season – which was set to end this week Tuesday at home against Aplington-Parkersburg (3-15) – the postseason, in turn, looms ever larger.

Advancing to round two of regionals – a feat once thought highly unlikely for a team that only last year had lost 48 games in a row before finally breaking the streak – seems quite possible now with the Redhawks set to face for the third time this year the BCLUW Comets in the Class 1A Region 6 first round game set for Friday.

“None of this could have happened without the girls’ hardworking, positive attitudes,” Merchant said. “We talk about having confidence in everything you do – from batting to playmaking – and being a good teammate all the time.”

“They seem to be really simple things, but I believe those things are what is helping change the culture of this program.”

The Redhawks postseason begins this Friday, June 30 against BCLUW at David Lee Softball Field in Conrad with the first pitch set for 7 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance online.

The winner will face either Don Bosco or Dunkerton at Don Bosco High School on July 5.