April 20, 2018 at 1:28 a.m.
Schwieterman single lifts Jay
Patriot freshman hits walk-off in eighth inning for 5-4 victory
Schwieterman single lifts Jay
Copyright 2018, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
Through her team’s first two games, Aubrie Schwieterman only had two plate appearances.
Neither resulted in her reaching base.
Amy Hawbaker had to make a decision; should she put the freshman in the lineup as the designated hitter, or opt for someone else?
Hawbaker chose the former, and with the game on the line the youngster lifted her team to the win.
Schwieterman hit a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday, propelling the Jay County High School softball team to a 5-4 victory over the Woodlan Warriors in the Allen County Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
“I was just trying to get the last run, honestly,” Schwieterman said of her approach with two outs and runners on first and second. “I just had to make sure I was watching the ball and get it in play as much as I could.”
With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Hannah Phillips got hit by a pitch before Sam Twigg grounded out to third base for the second out. Shelby Caldwell got hit on the outside of her left knee to give Jay County (2-2) two runners on base with Schwieterman coming to the plate.
The freshman was 0-for-2 with a walk already in the game. With the count 1-1, Schwieterman lofted Emma Baughman’s pitch into the outfield toward the left field foul line. Woodlan shortstop Kayla Reidenbach and left fielder Clare Yagodinski converged, and Reidenbach attempted an over-the-back basket catch to force a ninth inning.
But the wind carried the ball a little toward center field. It tipped off Reidenbach’s glove and fell to the grass. Phillips raced around third, beating the throw to catcher Hallie Mason for the game-winning run.
“When it left her bat I thought they were going to have trouble getting to it,” said Hawbaker, whose team played at home for the first time this year despite being in the fourth week of the season. “I knew Hannah would be able to score on it pretty easy because she’s very quick.
“They both did a good job.”
The victory over Woodlan (4-2, 0-1 ACAC) didn’t come easy though for the Patriots. Junior Kailee Denney was making her varsity debut pitching, and the Warriors scored three times in the first inning as Yagodinski, Ronnie Hathaway and Hallie Mason had consecutive RBIs.
Jay County responded with a pair of runs in its first time at bat. Kensey Litton had a leadoff single, and as she attempted to steal second base Mason’s throw got through the infield allowing Litton to reach third. She scored on a sacrifice from Maggie Pryor, and Emily Corn hit a solo home run to make it 3-2.
Litton scored again two innings later on a disputed play. Corn hit a slow roller to Reidenbach at short, and Litton had to tumble over her to avoid contact. The ball rolled through Reidenbach’s legs and into the outfield as Litton got to her feet and ran home for the tying run.
Woodlan coach Angie Baughman disputed the call, but to no avail.
Hathaway gave the Warriors a 4-3 advantage in the fifth before Caldwell hit an RBI single one inning later.
“They knew they needed that one run to keep us going,” said Hawbaker, whose team is off until it travels to Blackford Monday.
In the top of the seventh inning, Woodlan had a two-out single but nothing more, and Jay County went down in order. Chloe Trissel made all three plays at third base in the top of the eighth to set the table for Schwieterman to make her first career hit a memorable one.
Denney pitched to contact, letting the defense do most of the work. She allowed four earned runs on eight hits and walked one in the complete-game effort. Jay County got eight hits struck out six times against Baughman, and all but one Patriot run was earned.
Corn led Jay County by going 3-for-4, including her first round-tripper of the season.
“She has been a rock for our offense this year,” Hawbaker said. “She always comes up with at least one hit when we need it; either to get on base or to drive in other girls.
“We didn’t initially look for her to be our four-hole hitter, but she’s definitely earned it.”
All Rights Reserved
Through her team’s first two games, Aubrie Schwieterman only had two plate appearances.
Neither resulted in her reaching base.
Amy Hawbaker had to make a decision; should she put the freshman in the lineup as the designated hitter, or opt for someone else?
Hawbaker chose the former, and with the game on the line the youngster lifted her team to the win.
Schwieterman hit a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday, propelling the Jay County High School softball team to a 5-4 victory over the Woodlan Warriors in the Allen County Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
“I was just trying to get the last run, honestly,” Schwieterman said of her approach with two outs and runners on first and second. “I just had to make sure I was watching the ball and get it in play as much as I could.”
With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Hannah Phillips got hit by a pitch before Sam Twigg grounded out to third base for the second out. Shelby Caldwell got hit on the outside of her left knee to give Jay County (2-2) two runners on base with Schwieterman coming to the plate.
The freshman was 0-for-2 with a walk already in the game. With the count 1-1, Schwieterman lofted Emma Baughman’s pitch into the outfield toward the left field foul line. Woodlan shortstop Kayla Reidenbach and left fielder Clare Yagodinski converged, and Reidenbach attempted an over-the-back basket catch to force a ninth inning.
But the wind carried the ball a little toward center field. It tipped off Reidenbach’s glove and fell to the grass. Phillips raced around third, beating the throw to catcher Hallie Mason for the game-winning run.
“When it left her bat I thought they were going to have trouble getting to it,” said Hawbaker, whose team played at home for the first time this year despite being in the fourth week of the season. “I knew Hannah would be able to score on it pretty easy because she’s very quick.
“They both did a good job.”
The victory over Woodlan (4-2, 0-1 ACAC) didn’t come easy though for the Patriots. Junior Kailee Denney was making her varsity debut pitching, and the Warriors scored three times in the first inning as Yagodinski, Ronnie Hathaway and Hallie Mason had consecutive RBIs.
Jay County responded with a pair of runs in its first time at bat. Kensey Litton had a leadoff single, and as she attempted to steal second base Mason’s throw got through the infield allowing Litton to reach third. She scored on a sacrifice from Maggie Pryor, and Emily Corn hit a solo home run to make it 3-2.
Litton scored again two innings later on a disputed play. Corn hit a slow roller to Reidenbach at short, and Litton had to tumble over her to avoid contact. The ball rolled through Reidenbach’s legs and into the outfield as Litton got to her feet and ran home for the tying run.
Woodlan coach Angie Baughman disputed the call, but to no avail.
Hathaway gave the Warriors a 4-3 advantage in the fifth before Caldwell hit an RBI single one inning later.
“They knew they needed that one run to keep us going,” said Hawbaker, whose team is off until it travels to Blackford Monday.
In the top of the seventh inning, Woodlan had a two-out single but nothing more, and Jay County went down in order. Chloe Trissel made all three plays at third base in the top of the eighth to set the table for Schwieterman to make her first career hit a memorable one.
Denney pitched to contact, letting the defense do most of the work. She allowed four earned runs on eight hits and walked one in the complete-game effort. Jay County got eight hits struck out six times against Baughman, and all but one Patriot run was earned.
Corn led Jay County by going 3-for-4, including her first round-tripper of the season.
“She has been a rock for our offense this year,” Hawbaker said. “She always comes up with at least one hit when we need it; either to get on base or to drive in other girls.
“We didn’t initially look for her to be our four-hole hitter, but she’s definitely earned it.”
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
250 X 250 AD