Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Softball

Softball team wins 4 of 4 games, shuts out Highlands twice

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The Chadron State Eagles softball team is starting to find its groove as the season winds down, building momentum after a convincing series sweep over New Mexico Highlands University last weekend. The Eagles won all four games, and Highlands went home empty-handed.

CSC started the series on Friday afternoon strong by winning the first game, 7-1. The Eagles opened up the scoring with a 6-run 5th inning, including a 3-run homer from Rebecca Wetsch, junior of Erie, Colo. Casey Polk, junior of Golden, Colo., also knotted two RBI’s in the game, which would have ended in a shutout if not for a solo home run from Highland’s Dekota Monarrez, sophomore of West Covina, Calif., in the 7th inning. Despite the home run, Kylee Polsley, senior of Omaha, pitched a great game, with six strikeouts while only allowing three hits all game. Polsley was named the RMAC Pitcher of the Week after her performance this weekend.

In Friday’s second game, the Eagles managed to hold the shutout and finish the day with a 4-0 win. Chadron scored in the first inning when Courtney Lecher, freshman of Fort Collins, Colo., ran home on a wild pitch, narrowly beating the catcher back to home plate. In the 6th inning, CSC scored three runs when Katelyn Kruger, sophomore of Highlands Ranch, Colo., hit a gap and scored Caroline Johnson, sophomore of Firestone, Colo. Rebeka Prokaski, freshman from Broomfield, Colo., pinch-hit and added an RBI to finish the scoring for the Eagles.

Aryn Grywusiewicz, senior pitcher of Denver, struck-out six hitters and allowed just three hits in the shutout.

Saturday’s games both ended in walk-off home runs. In the first game, the Eagles mercy-ruled Highlands, winning 8-0 without playing the 6th or 7th innings.

Pitcher, Kylee Polsley, senior of Omaha, winds up during the game against New Mexico Highlands University, Saturday. —Photo by Shelby Andersen
Pitcher, Kylee Polsley, senior of Omaha, winds up during the game against New Mexico Highlands University, Saturday. —Photo by Shelby Andersen

Katie Londo, senior of Colorado Springs, set the tone for the Eagles with five RBIs, notching hits on all three of her at-bats, including two home runs. After being up 7-0 for most of the game, Polsley struck-out the last batter in the 5th inning, and didn’t have to take the mound again. Taylor Bauer, freshman from Rapid City, hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th and ended the game early for the Eagles.

Chadron saved their most exciting win for last, ending the series with a dramatic 4-2 victory.

Wetsch hit an RBI in the first inning after a Courtney Lecher, freshman of Fort Collins, Colo., triple, but the Eagles struggled to hit after the first, especially when Highlands took a 2-1 lead in the 3rd inning. The Eagles once again found a spark from Londo, who hit a solo home run in the 6th to tie the game and energize the dug-out. Grywusiewicz struck out two hitters in the 7th, holding Highlands to just two runs despite having seven hits all game. Bauer had a nice single in the bottom of the 7th, and Shea Graham, sophomore of Colorado Springs, took advantage. Graham tried to bunt twice, but fouled both, leaving her in a 0-2 hole. After confidently watching Highlands pitch three straight balls, Graham hammered the next pitch over the center-field wall to send Highlands home for good.

The next game for CSC is on Friday, at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D., who are 1-21 in conference play. The Eagles are 20-18 overall this season, and currently sitting at 5th place in the RMAC.