The Manawa girls’ softball team has been busy over the last couple week. They swept two doubleheaders, split another and lost to Pacelli.
Manawa 6, Amherst 5
The Lady Wolves traveled to Amherst for a doubleheader on Friday, May 4. Manawa has not defeated Amherst in softball for many years.
Neither team scored in the first inning. Two costly outfield errors and a walk in the second inning allowed Amherst to score first.
Ansley Block, Wendy Kons and Lexi Sell each hit a single in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Megan O’Brien hit a double scoring all three baserunners.
Amherst came back in the top of the third with two singles and two doubles, scoring two runs to even the score. Manawa failed to get a runner in the third.
The score remained the same until the Manawa scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Heading into the seventh inning, Manawa was up 4-3. Amherst’s leadoff batter reached third base on an outfield error and scored on a double by the next batter to tie the game.
The Lady Wolves failed to score in the bottom of the seventh inning, forcing the game into extra innings.
Amherst almost took the lead in the next inning, but had a runner thrown out at home plate on perfect throws from Kons to Braun to cather Katelyn Langman to end the ending.
Amherst threatened again in the ninth inning. Amherst’s second batter reached base on an error and advanced to second on a passed ball. Block struck out the next batter before allowing a single to rightfield. Amherst’s base runner attempted to score on the single, but Lexi Sell fired the ball to Block who then threw to Langman at home for the out to end the inning.
There was no scoring in the game until the 11th inning when Amherst scored one run. Heading into the bottom of the 11th, Manawa was down 5-4. Draeger started off the inning with a single and advanced to third when Block reached second on an outfield error. Baylee Gorges pinch ran for Block. With no outs and runners on second and third, Kim Retzke hit a single, scoring Draeger. A throwing error by Amherst allowed Gorges to cross home plate with the winning run. Manawa defeated Amherst 6-5 in 11 innings in a well-fought battle.
Manawa 8, Amherst 5
Langman and Braun hit singles to start the second game. Both scored on a double by Draeger, who scored on a double by Block. Katie Velie pinch ran for Block and scored on a passed ball.
Braun retired the side in order in the bottom of the first inning.
O’Brien started off the second with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Langman and to third on a single by Braun. Draeger hit her second double of the game, scoring both O’Brien and Braun.
Braun again shut down Amherst’s first three batters in the second.
Heading into the fourth inning Manawa held a 7-0.
Amherst scored three runs in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 7-3.
Bobbi Sell started off the sixth inning with a single, followed by Langman’s single, and a walk by Draeger. Sell scored on a fielder’s choice by Retzke.
In the end, the Lady Wolves and Braun picked up the 8-5 win.
Pacelli 16, Manawa 1
Manawa hosted undefeated conference leader Pacelli on Monday, April 30, and fell 16-1.
Pacelli’s first batter set the tone for the game when she reached third base on an outfield error. The second batter walked, and both eventually scored.
Braun walked in the first inning, and Draeger hit a single, but neither base runner was able to score.
Block shut down Pacelli’s in order in the second inning. Manawa failed to score in its half of the inning.
Pacelli’s first batter reached on an error in the third inning, and Block walked two batters to load the bases with one out. A fielding error allowed all the runners to score, putting Manawa into a deeper hole. Pacelli recorded only one hit in the inning, but was able to score five runs as eight batters went to the plate.
Entering the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Wolves were down 7-0. In their half of the third inning, Braun drew her second walk of the game and scored on a double by Draeger.
The fourth inning was devastating for Manawa when the first seven batters reached base and eventually scored.
Manawa went down in order in the fourth inning.
Pacelli scored one run in the fifth inning.
Bobbi Sell started off the fifth inning with a walk, but was unable to score.
In the game, Pacelli pounded out 11 hits on the way to a 16-1 win over the Lady Wolves.
Manawa 6, Marion 0
The Lady Wolves traveled to Marion on a cold Saturday morning, April 28, for what was originally scheduled as a tournament, but ended as a double-header against the Lady Mustangs.
Langman started the game by drawing a walk, stealing second and third base, and scoring on a single by Braun. Draeger hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Braun. Kim Retzke hit a single to score Braun.
Block started on the mound and gave up two hits and struck out two, but didn’t allowing any runs.
With two outs in the top of the second inning, freshman Bobbi Sell hit the first pitch over the fence in leftfield. The home run put Manawa up 3-1.
Block struck out all three Marion batters in the second inning.
In the top of the third, Braun drew a walk, but was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice. Block advanced to second on a single by Retzke, but was forced out at home for the third out.
In the bottom of the third, Block gave up one hit, but struck out three, and didn’t allow any runs.
The Lady Wolves scored one run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Draeger.
Each team was held scoreless in the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, Manawa threatened with Langman and Braun hitting singles, while Draeger walked. However, Langman was caught attempting to steal and Manawa was unable to score.
Marion’s first batter in the sixth hit a single, but Retzke threw her out attempting to steal second base.
In the top of the seventh inning, Retzke reached on a single and scored on a triple by Wendy Kons, who then scored on a fielder’s choice by Megan O’Brien.
Block struck out the first two Marion batters in the seventh inning, before fielding a grounder to end the game with a 6-0 win.
Block gave up only three hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out 15.
Marion 4, Manawa 1
Braun started on the mound in the second game and retired the Lady Mustangs in order in the first inning. The Lady Wolves also went down in order in the first inning.
Braun struck out three batters in the second inning, but gave up two hits and one run. The Lady Wolves again failed to score a run in the second inning.
Braun walked the first batter in the third inning, but Retzke threw her out when she attempted to steal second base. The second batter popped out to Langman in centerfield, and Draeger threw out the next batter.
Retzke was the only Manawa batter to reach base in the fourth when she hit a double, but was unable to score.
Marion started out the top of the fifth inning with four straight singles, a strikeout and a walk, with two runs scoring. Block replaced Braun at pitcher. She struck out the next batter and forced the following batter out on a pop-up to Braun at shortstop.
The Lady Wolves were again retired in order, and found themselves down 3-0 after 5 innings.
Marion’s lead-off batter in the sixth inning hit a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Block struck out the next three batters.
Draeger hit a two-out triple in the sixth inning, however, was stranded there.
Marion failed to score in the top of the seventh inning.
Manawa showed life in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Kons hit a triple and scored on a double by O’Brien. That was it for the scoring as the Lady Wolves fell 4-1.
Manawa 12, Shiocton 5
The Lady Wolves traveled to Shiocton for a doubleheader on Friday, April 27.
Braun reached on a Shiocton error, stole second, and scored when Block reached on an outfield error in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first, Block struck out the first batter, gave up two hits and one walk. Two batters reached on infield errors and before the inning finally ended Shiocton took a 3-1 lead.
In the second, Lexi Sell was the only player to reach base.
The game was delayed for more than half an hour, as the Shiocton player playing first base injured her knee while catching a throw and was taken from the field by ambulance.
When play resumed, Block gave up one walk and one hit in the bottom of the second, but did not allow any runs.
In the third inning, Langman and Braun each reached on an error, Block hit a single to score Langman. Shiocton was retired in order in third inning.
Later in the game, Langman bunted to reach first base, then Braun, Draeger, Block, Kons, and O’Brien hit singles. Retzke then hit a triple, Lexi Sell reached on an error, and Langman hit a single her second time up in the inning. In all, Manawa scored seven runs in the inning.
Shiocton scored two runs in their half of the inning. After five innings, Manawa had the lead 9-5.
Manawa scored three more runs in the game to win the game 12-5.
Block gave up four hits and struck out seven.
Manawa 9, Shiocton 5
Braun retired Shiocton in order in the first inning of the second game.
Manawa struggled offensively and defensively the first two innings of the game. Braun was the only Lady Wolf to reach base in the first on a single, but was unable to score. Manawa struggled defensively in the second inning, giving up two infield errors. Braun hit the first batter of the inning, but struck out two. She gave up only two hits, but the Lady Wolves allowed four runs to score.
Neither team scored until the third inning when O’Brien started out the third inning by reaching first base on a dropped third strike. Langman hit a single and both runners scored on a single by Braun. Braun then scored on a single by Block. After four innings, Manawa was down 4-3.
In the fifth, Braun retired the side in order.
Braun started off in the fifth inning by drawing a walk and stealing both second and third base. Draeger reached on an error, followed by Block and Kons each hitting singles. All four players scored.
Braun gave up one run in the sixth.
Manawa scored one more time in the game on its way to a 9-5 victory.
Braun gave up five hits, struck out four, and had no walks for Manawa.