GREENVILLE – The Piqua Lady Indians rode into Greenville with a perfect 9-0 MVL mark and quietly left town as the Lady Wave Softball team put a 10-0 shutout five-inning run-rule win on the visitors.
“Great day for Lady Wave Softball,” Greenville coach Jerrod Newland following the league win. “Fun day at the Stadium. A lot of people out here … just fun stuff, good atmosphere, suns out.”
Lady Wave veteran starting pitcher, Zoey Burns went the distance on the mound holding the Lady Indians to two hits on the night in earning the win while the Greenville girls were playing error-free ball in the field.
“The softball gods wanted us to play Piqua today,” Newland said after rain had swept through the area earlier in the day. “We had to take care of the team that’s at the top of the league.”
A strong wind blowing to the right side of the field kept the ball from carrying out of the stadium while creating havoc for the fielders.
“Outfield makes some plays in this wind today, crazy conditions,” Coach Newland stated. “We played it like pros out there – we work on it all the time.”
After setting the Lady Indians down in order in the top of the first, two by Burns’ strikeouts, Greenville put three runs on the board in the bottom of the inning taking advantage of a Piqua error, a Burns single, a two-out 2-run Kendall Cromwell double followed with a RBI Addie Burke double to right sending the teams to the second with Greenville up 3-0.
Piqua went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second and Greenville went scoreless in the inning sending five hitters to the plate with Kylar Arnett picking up a single and Burns reaching by way of a Lady Indians error.
Piqua went down in order for the third consecutive inning while Greenville was plating a run in the bottom of the frame to lead 4-0 with three innings in the book. Ella McLear opened the inning with a double and scored on a Burke RBI single to right.
The Lady Indians stranded two fourth-inning singles, their lone hits of the night while Greenville was going down in order sending the conference game to the fifth inning.
The Lady Wave played aggressive heads-up ball at the plate and on the basepaths in the bottom of the fifth beginning with a single to center off the bat of McLear and a steal of second by pinch runner Skylar Bryson. A perfectly placed Cromwell bunt down the first base line put runners on first and third with no outs.
Pinch runner, Kara Blumenstock swiped second setting up a 2-run Burke single to center and a 6-0 Greenville lead. Lily Brubaker laid down the Lady Wave’s second perfect bunt of the inning putting runners on first and second and Savannah Leach walked on four straight pitches loading the bases with Lady Wave.
An infield popup produced the first out of the inning bringing a pitching change for the Lady Indians. Arnett greeted the new pitcher with an RBI single to left for a 7-0 lead and bases remaining loaded.
Brubaker gave Greenville an 8-0 lead scoring from third on a Piqua passed ball with the runners moving up to second and third. Burns stepped to the plate drilling a 2-run single to right scoring Leach and with Arnett never breaking stride surprising the Lady Indians sliding home with the 10th run of the night giving LWSB pitcher Zoey Burns a 2-run walk-off single while earning the win on the mound.
“Kylar is amazing,” Newland noted. “Kylar Arnett plays the game at another speed and level. She’s just amazing. I knew it – It’s always nice to play five.”
For the second consecutive game, the Lady Wave played error-free ball in the field while Piqua committed 2 errors on the night.
“It’s exciting to play a game and opportunities here today and boy – you can’t say enough about Addie Burke, Ella McLear stepping up and getting big hits. Kendall first-inning after we got two on, Zoey hitting the ball today.”
In going the distance, Burns allowed no runs, 2 hits, and no walks while striking out 5 Piqua batters.
“Zo (Zoey Burns), Denny Ruble (LWSB pitching coach and Kendall Cromwell (LWSB catcher) the best I’ve seen them all year today,” Newland said. “They were very sharp.”
Burke was 3-3 with a double, 4 RBIs, and a run scored for the Lady Wave. Cromwel went 2-3 including a double and 2 RBIs; McLear 2-3 with a double and a run; Arnett 2-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs; Burns 2-4, 2 RBIs; Brubaker 1-2, 1 run; Bryson 2 runs; Leach 1 walk, 1 run; Blumenstock 2 runs scored.
“Tomorrow (Thursday, April 18) we have Tippecanoe here – a huge game tomorrow with Tipp and then Friday we get to go 20 miles to Piqua in a rematch and I can’t wait for that opportunity to go play,” Coach Newland concluded.
BOX SCORE
123 456 7 R H E
000 00X X 0 2 2 Piqua
301 06X X 10 12 0 Greenville
