Forest Park softball opens with double loss to Bark River

Forest Park’s first chance to get outside on April 28 exposed just how far behind the Lady Trojans were, as Bark River-Harris rolled through a doubleheader at Forest Park High School in Crystal Falls, 26-8 and 22-3. Both games ended after three innings because of the score differential, and the lopsided results showed the difference between a team still shaking off winter and a visitor that had already played 14 games since March 21.

For Forest Park, the opener was less a routine setback than a test of how much rust remained after a spring spent indoors. The Trojans had not been able to practice outside before the season because the field still held about four inches of slush and ice, forcing Kimberly Pekarek’s group into batting cages, conditioning and fundamentals work instead of live field time. Pekarek, in her fourth year as head coach, was also trying to sort out player positions as the season began.

There were still a few clear positives to build on. Senior Maykayli Carlson made her pitching debut in the first game and struck out three Bark River hitters. Forest Park also put together seven hits and drew five walks in that game, enough traffic to score eight runs and at times pressure a Broncos team that arrived much more game-ready.

The second game was even tougher on the scoreboard, but it also gave another young arm a chance to grow. Junior Tessa Bartoszek made her pitching debut and struck out five in the nightcap. Offensively, though, Forest Park managed only three runs on three hits and four walks as Bark River-Harris stayed in control from start to finish.

The opener also marked the start of Forest Park’s 2026 schedule, with Norway next on the road April 30. The roster entered the spring with three senior returners, Jonnie Kethola, Jessie Loehr and Carlson, and first-year assistant coach Hannah Trzeciak, a 2016 Forest Park graduate and Northern Michigan University alum, joining the staff. Before the season, Loehr said winning a district game would make the year a success, a goal that now looks tied to how quickly Forest Park can turn outdoor time into sharper timing, steadier pitching and cleaner defense.