GREENVILLE — It was perfection in every phase for the Greenville Lady Wave Monday night.
Sophomore Ella Oswalt and junior Lizzie Shaffer combined to throw a five-inning perfect game, leading Greenville to a 12-0 Miami Valley League run-rule win over the Xenia Lady Buccaneers.
“Great day for Lady Wave Softball,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “Proud of the kids. Beautiful sunny day getting back after it after a couple of days off. Just a breath of fresh air, we’re working hard, having fun, great stuff, fun for the kids.”
Oswalt set the tone immediately, delivering one of the rarest feats in softball — an immaculate inning — striking out the side on just nine pitches in the first. The sophomore right-hander went on to retire all nine batters she faced over three perfect innings, striking out every hitter without issuing a walk.
In total, Oswalt needed just 34 pitches to complete her outing, throwing 27 strikes and seven balls while earning the win.
Shaffer took over in the circle and was equally dominant, closing out the final two innings by striking out five of the six batters she faced. She did not allow a walk, sealing the combined perfect game as Greenville retired all 15 Xenia hitters.
“Perfect game today. Ella and Lizzie, Ally (pitching coach), and Jordan McMullen (catcher) — perfect game, 15 up and 15 down,” Newland said. “Good stuff, hit the ball square, made a play out there. We didn’t walk much, we hit the ball and got all 20 kids in the game today, which is awesome, everybody playing and everybody having fun.”
Backing the pitching effort was a flawless defensive performance, as the Lady Wave played error-free in the field to complete the perfect outing.
Greenville’s offense wasted no time getting started, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Leah Force led off with a single and later scored on a Rielynn Davidson groundout after Shaffer added a one-out hit and an error moved runners into scoring position.
The Lady Wave broke the game open in the second, scoring six runs on three hits to extend the lead to 7-0. Force singled home a run, an error plated another, Jordyn McMullen delivered a run-scoring fielder’s choice, Kendall Cromwell brought in a run with a groundout, and Davidson capped the inning with a two-run single to right field.
Greenville added two more runs in the third. Lily Brubaker opened the inning with a single, and Force followed with an RBI base hit down the left field line. Another run scored on a Xenia error to push the lead to 9-0.
The Lady Wave closed out the scoring with three runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Hallee Fourman provided the highlight of the night, launching her first varsity home run — a solo shot to left field.
“Hallee Fourman hits a homerun, and she’s just had a great week,” Newland said. “Proud of the kids and where we’re going. Proud of the two pitchers — 15 up and 15 down — just fun stuff.”
Riley Thomas added a single in the inning, and Callie Zwiesler drove in a run with a groundout. Another Xenia error allowed the final run to cross, giving Greenville a 12-0 advantage.
Force led the Lady Wave offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate, collecting singles in the first, second, and third innings.
With dominant pitching, clean defense, and timely hitting, Greenville turned in a complete team performance in the MVL victory.
“League win and back at it here Wednesday against Piqua,” Newland said.
BOX SCORE:
000 000 0 R H E
000 00X X 0 0 9 Xenia
162 3XX X 12 9 0 Greenville
