BERNE — Berne-Knox-Westerlo softball coach Mike Reynolds likes what he has seen from his team this season.

Even though the Lady Bulldogs have just five wins this season and won’t make the sectional playoffs, Reynolds likes how his young players have gotten better during the season.

“We’re getting small victories,” Reynolds said. “We are a young team. We have five seniors. Last year, we had five seniors. We’re taking the opportunity to develop the players. We’ve had a couple of games we could have won.”

On Thursday, BKW trailed Schoharie, 10-0, before the Lady Bulldogs even got a hit.

The Indians’ Adrianna Diamond pitched four no-hit innings, but that did not deter the Bulldogs spirit.

BKW scored one run in the fifth inning and three in the sixth before giving up another run in the seventh inning in a 11-4 loss to Schoharie.

“They had a substantial lead,” Reynolds said. “The most important thing for us is we just have to learn to keep our heads in the game. There’s been a couple of times we lost control, but today we exhibited more discipline and then we started hitting.”

“Spirit and heart”

Senior captain Katrina Yakel scored the first run for BKW.

Tomi-Lee Springer led off the inning with a double for BKW’s first hit of the contest. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Yakel walked to put runners on first and third base.

Yakel stole second base and advanced to third on a ground ball hit by Bridgit Hurst that was fielded by Schoharie shortstop Kaitlyn Dano. Dano threw the ball home to get Springer out as she tried to score.

During the next at bat, Hurst took off to steal second base and, when the throw went to second base, Yakel took off for home and scored easily.

BKW scored three runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Senior Aurora Becker led off the inning with a walk. With one out, Kristen Depeaux walked to put runners on first and second. Each advanced a base on a wild pitch.

After another out, Springer hit a ball hard to centerfield that resulted in a two-run single, scoring Becker and Depeaux.

Springer moved to second base on a wild pitch and then later to third on another wild pitch when Viky Gerard struck out but was able to run to first base after the ball got by the Schoharie catcher. The catcher’s throw went wide of first base and Springer was able to score from third.

Several key players kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game by demonstrating leadership, Reynolds said.

“The Yakel sisters and Tommie-Lee Springer are the spirit and heart of our team,” Reynolds said. “I can’t keep complimenting them enough. They are positive role models. Every single one of the girls is positive, but those three are the heart and soul of this team.”

Young team

Katrina Yakel will be heading to Siena College in the fall. She ran cross-country and played basketball for BKW.

Becker and Vicky Lounsbury are the only other seniors on the team.

Hurst and Kieva Reynolds split the pitching duties. Reynolds, the coach’s daughter, held Schoharie to just two runs and struck out five batters in the final three innings. 

Hurst, who is gaining experience in the circle, struggled with her control but battled through it and finished with three strikeouts in four innings.

With such a young team, Reynolds has been happy to see continued progress.

“We get better every game,” he said. “They lack experience. Now they know what they are doing. We should be able to carry that over to next season, which will be good.”

Reynolds has put a lot into the program. This year, he has an assistant coach, Caitlin O’Connell.

Home-run derby

Reynolds has set up a fund-raiser that will also help the softball program at BKW.

“We’ll have a fund-raiser event on June 6,” Reynolds said. “We’ll hold a home-run derby for faculty and students from three to six. We’ll be selling tickets next week.”

With the season over — the Bulldogs played Mayfield on Friday and Duanesburg on Monday — Reynolds is looking back as this spring as a learning session.

“With the expectations I have,” Reynolds said, “we are doing well. The girls need more playing time. The goal has been to give them opportunities. The girls are positive. They support one another.

“This is such a mental game as much as a physical game,” Reynolds added, “and the girls learned the importance of keeping their heads in the game. What we accomplished this year, I feel is a victory. Half of the team, it’s their first year playing varsity softball. I’m very proud of them.”