Kari Gibb/MDN Minot High’s Sydnee Bartsch (1) pitches in game two of the doubleheader with Grand Forks Central at the MSU Bubble on Thursday.

The Minot High Majettes’ softball team began their season with a second place ranking with 93 points in the WDA pre-season poll, five points behind first-place Dickinson’s 98 points.

The Majettes began their season in Minot State University’s bubble with a doubleheader, hosting Grand Forks Central. It was the first game for the visiting Knights as well.

“We moved the players around a lot with some playing positions they have never had game time in before,” said Minot High softball head coach Gerard Cederstrom. “We wanted to see how versatile we are.”

The first games of the season were well played in each phase with solid pitching, defense and the bats were very active for the Majettes.

“We discussed it after the game,” said Cederstrom. “We need to go to the plate with a plan for the at bat. Making contact with the ball is not the same as having a plan and the girls even mused that they did not have a plan all the time with their batting efforts.”

The Majettes started game two where the team left off in game one. The bats were alive as Minot High jumped out to a 4-0 lead at the bottom of the first inning. Then, the top of the second gave the Majettes something to review.

“We had one rough inning pitching,” said Cederstrom. “This was the first time any of the pitchers faced live batters in game situations.”

Despite the struggles, Minot High took a 4-3 lead into the top of the third over the Knights.

A six run third inning for the home team, combined with an additional run in the top of the fourth gave the Majettes the win and the sweep of GF Central to start the season.

In game two, Sydnee Bartsch worked for three innings and allowed four hits, three runs with three walks and four strikeouts in her first outing. Reagan Terrel pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two hits with four strikeouts and no runs.

As a team, the Majettes had 25 at bats, 16 hits, 15 runs with 14 RBIs and six walks. Minot High only gave up one strikeout to the Knights.

Journey Larson was 3-3 at the plate with two RBI while Jillian Ackerman and Hallie Baker were both 2-3 at the plate while Isabelle Anderson, Terrel and Kami Garaas were all 2-2 with nine RBI between them for the game.

Minot High starts the season 2-0, and the Majettes will travel to Williston on Monday, April 8, for a double-header. First pitch of the double header is at 4:30 p.m.