LEBANON – The Greenville Lady Wave earned a 2-1 come from behind non-conference win over the reigning OHSAA Division I State Championship Lakota West Lady Firebirds at Armco Park.
“Just a good atmosphere and fun stuff and bottom line 2-1 Greenville,” Greenville coach Jerrod Newland said following the win. “I knew we would play well and come out and play. We didn’t make an error and they made two. Good teams find ways and we played small ball a little bit which is very unusual for us.”
The game pitted two of the games winningest high school softball coaches and longtime friends; Lakota’s Keith Castner and Greenville’s Jerrod Newland in opposite dugouts. Both coaches have passed 500 career high school softball wins.
Lakota took advantage of a second inning single and a two-out double to plate a run and lead 1-0 after two complete.
The Lady Wave got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with Kylar Arnett legging out in infield single, an Addie Burke single to center and a run scoring single off the bat of Kylie Hamm, all coming with two outs to even the score at 1-1.
The game remained tied with Greenville coming to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with Ella McLear coming off the bench to slap a 2-1 pitch to short booted by Lakota for an error. Next up for the Lady Wave, Mahayla Cook grounded into a fielder’s choice keeping Greenville with a runner at first and now one out.
Lady Wave senior speedster, Skylar Fletcher dropped down a perfect bunt beating a wide throw to first while moving Cook to third. Coach Newland waved Cook home with the junior siding across the plate with the winning walk off run.
Greenville sophomore, Zoey Burns went the distance on the mound picking up the win allowing 1-earned run, 4-hits and 1-walk while striking out nine.
“Great game out of Zoey on the mound,” Newland noted. “She just pitched fantastic – big time atmosphere and senior wins it (Fletcher). McLear gets on, pinch hits, sits here for 90 minutes, gets on base. Great atmosphere, great ballgame.”
The Lady Wave outhit Lakota 9-4 led by Skylar Fletcher going 2-4 including a double; Kylar Arnett 2-3 with a run scored and Kylie Hamm 1-3 with a RBI. Zoey Burns went 1-3 with a double and Addie Burke, Alaina Baughn and Ashlyn Zimmer each had a single to round out Greenville hitting.
“Hamm getting one to tie it at one and then another senior win it there,” said Coach Newland. “Zoey was on fire out here. Big win. Baughn, stud back there (catcher). Team win. That’s good softball. They’re just like us, they have 25 kids over there. It’s a good win for us – the place erupted. Walk off winner – great win.”
“This is late May softball in early April,” Newland concluded. “We’ll take a 2-1 win, that’s a Division I good team, great team and great program win.”
BOX SCORE
000 000 0 R H E
010 000 0 1 4 4 Lakota West
000 100 1 2 9 0 Greenville
In the late game, the Lady Wave trailed Lebanon 8-4 after five-innings of non-conference play before the Lady …. Would plate 14-runs in the top of the sixth to earn a 22-4 win.
“We had battled and scratched back to make it 8-4 going to the 6th before it went downhill,” said Coach Newland. “Great day and great experiences getting outs and making plays. Just have to enjoy the process.”
