Groton continues to make big strides as a first-year softball program and on Friday evening, those strides took place on the basepaths at Koehler Hall of Fame Field.

Groton stole nine bases to help fuel a 14-10 victory over Mobridge-Pollock. That was a stark contrast to the team’s lack of aggression on the bases against Aberdeen Central last week.

“We really worked on that this week in practice,” said Groton coach Amanda Bisbee, “got a few signs going.”

Playing in just its fifth game in program history, Groton not only stole bases, but was off and running at every opportunity against their Tiger counterparts.

“We talked about it before this game. Yes, we’re beginners, but we don’t have to play like beginners,” Bisbee said. “We are going to start being aggressive out here, and we know what we’re doing, and it’s time to show everybody we got this.”

While Groton is just getting started as a program, Mobridge-Pollock is just getting started this season, playing in its first game of the spring.

“First game out, I think it’s their fourth or fifth game, so they got the rust off and we’re trying to get it off,” said Mobridge-Pollock coach Andrew Overland.

Mobridge-Pollock jumped in front with three runs in the top of the second, two coming in on a single by Rue Knudson. The inning could have been bigger if not for the head’s up play by Groton’s Abby Fjeldheim, who stopped a ball and alertly forced out a runner at second with the ball in her glove in one hand and touching the base with her other hand.

“I was just thinking well I’ve got the ball and the base is right there,” Fjeldheim said. “I didn’t know how far away the girl was, so I was just like, just touch the base.”

Like running the bases, that play showed that the first-year players are gaining knowledge of the sport with each passing game.

“I think we’re picking up on a lot of stuff, just like we’re getting more confident within the game,” Fjeldheim said. “I think that everything is falling into place for us.”

Groton eventually took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the third and was able to stay in front the rest of the way. Each time Mobridge-Pollock would inch closer, Groton would extend its lead.

“We definitely have room for improvement, but we did see a lot tonight, actually,” said Mobridge-Pollock senior Jacy Netterville, who had a pair of hits in the contest. “We have a lot of girls that it is their first year playing, and we lost a lot of girls, too.”

Netterville continues to compete in two spring sports, running track and field as well as playing softball. She was forced to make a choice on Friday, because her school also had a track and field meet.

“I like softball better,” Netterville said, but noted she won’t necessarily pick one sport over the other every time there is a scheduling conflict.

Last season Netterville participated in both the state track and field meet and the state softball tournament and would like to do that again this spring.

Groton, which was led by Libby Cole with three hits, scored in every frame but the first and moved its season record to 2-3.

“We had girls tonight playing in brand new positions. They stepped up,” Bisbee said. “They did what they needed to do. They’re swinging the bats. They’ve been working hard.”

While Mobridge-Pollock committed multiple errors in the contest, Overland said that is to be expected given his team’s limited practice time so far this spring.

“I think we’ve been outside three times this year. We do lots of hitting, so we expected our hitting to be pretty good and our defense, it’s behind right now,” Overland said. “We’ve got one way to go and that’s up. I told the girls it’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish the season. That’s what were going to do, just try to improve every game.”

The Groton players have the same goal as they venture through their initial softball compaign.

“We’re just trying to grow as much as we can each game,” Fjeldheim said, “and learn as much as we can from each and every game, and it’s working so far.”

Bisbee said her players have already surpassed the season goals she had in mind just five games into the year.

“I told them they are building the foundation for this program,” Bisbee said, “and it’s a pretty strong foundation they’re building.”

Mobridge-Pollock 030 023 2 – 10 7 6

Groton 014 243 x – 14 7 2

Rue Knudson and Abigail Hollenbeck; Kinsley Rowen and Libby Cole. 2B – Mobridge-Pollock, Jacy Netterville 2, B. Merkel; Groton, Rowen, Cole.