Lady Bears get walk-off win against HLV

In a game that was a product of the long ball and the short game, English Valleys managed to get out with a 7-6 win at home against HLV on June 15. HLV threw some punches but the Lady Bears countered, and it came down to one play at the end to get the win.

    Elle Ayers gave up three runs in the top of the first but the offense from EV responded with three runs of their own to essentially wipe the slate clean. Isabel Schneider led off the game with a triple and was brought in from an infielders choice by Kami Tippie. The momentum grew as Karyssa Westfall reached base and then Audrey Grove cranked a ball over the fence to tie the game at three. From there, neither team would score more than one run in their half of an inning as they kept matching each other.

    EV got another triple in the bottom of the third, this time coming from the bat of Tippie. She was brought home from a single by Westfall which then tied the score at four. Another inning of scoreless ball led to HLV getting a minimal lead back in the fifth. The Lady Bears countered with another home run, this time a solo shot from Schneider to tie the game at five. HLV hit their own homer in the top of the sixth and EV used some small ball to get Maleah Ackerman home to tie the game at six.

    Ayers shut down HLV in the top of the seventh to give her offense a better chance to get the win, needing only a single run. Sydney Olson got on base with a single followed by bunts from Schneider and Tippie, both getting on base from errant throws by HLV. With bases loaded and nobody out, scoring chances were high for EV and they ended it quickly after Westfall got a ball to drop in the shallow outfield to bring home the winning run.

    Lady Bear leaders: Isabel Schneider/Karyssa Westfall/Maleah Ackerman – 2 hits, Isabel Schneider – 2 runs, Isabel Schneider/Audrey Grove – 1 HR, Karyssa Westfall/Audrey Grove – 2 RBIs, Karyssa Westfall – 1 SB, Elle Ayers – 6 Ks

    The Lady Bears hosted Sigourney on June 18 before traveling to Colfax-Mingo on June 19.