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Wednesday, 30 April 2008 |
By PHIL McLEAN
Staff Writer
For those looking for a hitting performance, they were disappointed on Tuesday night at Wapakoneta High School. But for those looking for a good softball game, it was hard to beat Wapakoneta’s 2-1 victory over the Van Wert Cougars in a contest that gave fans everything they could ask for — superb pitching, excellent defense and evenly balance offenses that kept the issue in doubt until the final out of the game.
Wapakoneta varsity coach Bill Sammons expressed his pride in the Redskins. Erica Bryan and Christy Steinke switched positions once again Tuesday and both girls showed they’ve settled into their roles.
Steinke, who almost literally throws herself into any game she plays, continues to battle with intensity. Bryan, who is a study in concentration when she is on the field, made some seemingly impossible defensive plays that more than once ended Cougar threats.
“Erica Bryan had a great defensive game at shortstop,” Sammons said. “That’s weird for me to hear. It’s not her favorite position and she gives me all she has.”
But it was Steinke who plated the runs that gave Wapakoneta the victory.
She led off the first inning with a walk. Most players don’t think much of sacrifices but the Redskins learned just how important they can be Tuesday.
Sandra Springer hit a near-perfect bunt down the third base line to move Steinke to second. A wild pitch by Van Wert’s freshman pitcher Morgan Williams sent her to third. Then a sacrifice fly to center by Jordan Sawmiller drove in the first run of the game.
Wapakoneta took advantage of three Van Wert errors on the day.
“We didn’t take care of the ball,” Van Wert varsity coach Jeff Bolenbaugh said.
“We made three errors.”
Van Wert tied the game in the fourth. Brittney Bolenbaugh got the Cougars first hit of the game with two outs. She hit a shot to right field, then went to second on a fielding error. She was singled home by Alexa Jent.
Then a Van Wert error led to the winning run.
Steinke got a two-out single.
A Cougar error sent her to second and Springer reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Steinke to reach third. Sawmiller also reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases.
Then Bolenbaugh issued her only walk of the game allowing Amy Copeland to get the winning RBI.
With two out in the seventh inning, Van Wert threatened again.
Madison Kohn and Ashley Harshman each got a hit and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Finally, Kelsey Place got Kara Thomas to fly out to Sawmiller in right field to end the game.
Sammons credits the win to the Redskins’ attitude. When they walk on the field their demeanor is, “Here we are. If you want us, beat us, he said”
“This was a good game,” Sammons said.
Van Wert drops to 11-7 on the season and are now 2-5 in the Western Buckeye League.
Jordyn Bodell led Wapakoneta at the plate with two of the Redskins’ four hits.
Wapakoneta improves to 10-6 on the season and will pit their 3-4 conference mark against Shawnee when the Indians come to town on Friday.
VW 000 100 0 – 1-5-3
WP 010 001 x – 2-4-1 |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 02 May 2008 )
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