Aberdeen Central lost another war, but the Golden Eagles continue to win some battles along the way.

While Central dropped a 20-2 softball decision to O’Gorman at Koehler Hall of Fame Field Monday afternoon, the Eagles are coming to life offensively. They had quality at bats which led to seven baserunners against the Knights in three innings.

“We’ve been practicing a lot of batting at practice and it’s really paid off,” said freshman Kaylee Dixon.

Central is making strides both offensively and defensively, according to coach Cassidy Schaar.

“We’re seeing our girls chip away so getting base runners on, and just forcing the other team to make errors or to get walks and things like that,” Schaar said. “And same thing defensively, we’re hitting our cuts, we know where our lineups and redirects are going. We’re diving for plays. We’re eating up that 5-6 hole.”

To be sure there is still plenty of work left to be done.

O’Gorman scored six runs before an out was recorded in the contest on just one hit. Eventually the Knights found their stride at the plate as well and rapped out seven hits in a 10-run third inning. Karsten Schlimgen delivered the big blow on a bases-loaded double.

Schlimgen had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs, while Olivia Tobin, Samantha Fonder and Hailey Jones also drove in three runs apiece.

Schaar said O’Gorman is one of the most consistent hitting teams that Central has faced this season.

“They were stringing them together at the right time and just finding gaps,” Schaar said. “Our defense looked really good today, it’s just they were finding the gaps.”

Still, Central produced hits in each of its innings, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

After Kaylee Kiesow doubled in Ayrlie Waldo, Dixon singled to score Kiesow.

“I just felt like I really needed to get it in,” Dixon said, “so I just picked the best pitch that I could and hit it.”

The Golden Eagles, who received two hits apiece from Waldo and Kiesow, continued to remain upbeat throughout the contest and kept battling.

“They’re hard to knock down. This is exactly why this is the group of girls we picked to be our first ever softball team. They are cut out for adversity,” Schaar said. “It’s not necessarily reflecting in the score right now, but anyone that’s been following us has seen this team take strides and a lot of things are clicking. It’s just a matter of time before it all clicks at one time.”

Trailing by 18 runs heading into the bottom of the third, the Golden Eagles did not go quietly, putting two runners on base. That competitive spirit was not lost on Schaar.

“Even in the bottom of the third inning there, our girls continued to show signs of fight. They never give up,” Schaar said. “Obviously, we want to see that score be different, but we’re working towards that day and I think it’s in our future.”

The Eagles are trying to catch up to some of their foes who have club softball teams for years.

When asked about the biggest challenges the team is facing in its inaugural season, Dixon responded, “I think it’s just playing competitively and fast. That’s been the biggest difference between us and them, but we’ve definitely stepped up to the challenge.”

Dixon said the team is learning more and more with each game that it plays.

“We’ve gotten way better as we’ve experienced more stuff and figured out what to do in certain plays,” she said.

While producing runs is still at a premium, the Eagles are becoming more disciplined at the plate with each at-bat.

“Every hitter is different. I’ve taught them look for your pitch. If it’s not yours, early on in the count, don’t swing at it,” Schaar said. “Wait for yours and be confident and be patient for that, using the count to your advantage, knowing when you have to swing at something in the zone and when you don’t.”

Central will try to put those lessons to use again today when they play at Pierre.

O’Gorman 82(10) – 20 13 1

Aberdeen Central 020 – 0 6 5

Mary Koch and Hermsen; Kylee Hoffman and Alivia Roettele. 2B – O’Gorman, Karsten Schlimgen 2; Aberdeen Central, Kaylee Kiesow.