Henning’s monster game leads Bonduel softball team past Menominee Indian

Bonduel High School sophomore Nakiyah Henning made her first softball postseason game one to remember, pitching a no-hitter and driving in six runs for the Bears in their 15-0 win in four innings over Menominee Indian in a Division 3 regional contest June 9 in Bonduel.

In the circle, Henning struck out eight of the 12 batters she faced. She allowed one walk, but the Bears were able to eliminate the runner on a stolen base attempt, so Henning faced the minimum over her four innings.

“It’s an amazing experience and it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it,” said Henning of the no-hitter. “I’m proud to be a part of this team, and I want to keep helping in any way I can.”

Bonduel used two big innings at the plate to support Henning, with the sophomore delivering key hits in each frame.

After tossing a 1-2-3 first inning with three strikeouts, Henning drove in Abby Stoltenow for the the game’s first run with a two-out single in the bottom of the first.

The lone baserunner to reach against Henning was Menominee Indian’s Selena O’Kimosh to lead off the second inning. After she was caught stealing, Henning struck out the inning’s other two batters.

The Bears then scored four runs in the second to push the lead to 5-0.

Stoltenow drove in Julia Lorbiecki and Macy Niles with a double before Henning plated Stoltenow and Hailee Thompson on a triple.

Henning’s big day in the circle continued in the third with a pair of strikeouts and a nice catch on a liner by Hailey Zernicke, the first baseman.

After the Bears’ bats went down in order, Henning struck out a batter before inducing a groundout and flyball in the fourth.

Bonduel then erupted for 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth to reach the 10-run rule and secure Henning’s no-hitter.

Henning got the scoring started in the frame with a two-RBI double. A couple batters later, Zernicke cleared the bases with three-run triple. Zernicke scored on an error during the next at-bat.

Niles kept the big inning going with another triple to score a run. Claire Gehm then drove in Niles on an infield single.

A bases-loaded walk by Thompson later in the inning made it 14-0 before Henning ended the contest by grounding a ball to third base and having Stoltenow beat the throw home.

Bonduel sent 14 batters to the plate in the fourth, with the final 13 reaching.

“I think our pitcher pitched really well tonight and then the few balls that did get (put) in play we fielded cleanly and we made plays,” said Stoltenow on the team’s win.

The seventh-seeded Bears’ win over the 10th-seeded Eagles advances Bonduel into a regional semifinal game against second-seeded Peshtigo on June 14 in Peshtigo.

“We need to have top defense, we need to get the bats going right away. We can’t stall and wait, we gotta just jump on them right away,” said Henning on what the team needs to do to keep moving on in the postseason.

Aniya Peters was dealt the loss in the circle for Menominee Indian. She started the game and ended up getting all 10 outs.

Mariah Fish came on in the fourth, but was replaced by Peters again after facing seven batters.

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