Ansonia’s Bre Walker delivered a standout effort, striking out 15 batters while tossing a no-hitter to lead the Lady Tigers to the conference victory.
“Our pitching is coming along,” said Ansonia coach David Fisherback. “Bre is hitting her spots, her movement pitches were working really well. A lot of credit across the other side there, Ella Godfrey had a great game going herself.”
Despite the loss, Mississinawa Valley pitcher Ella Godfrey turned in a solid performance, allowing just three hits while keeping the Lady Blackhawks within striking distance.
“I don’t know what we have to do, sometimes we just can’t hit,” said MV coach Shane Buckingham. “I give Bre credit, she was mowing us down tonight. Ella did a good job, too. We just had one inning where we threw the ball around a little bit and it got to us.”
That one inning proved to be the difference.
Ansonia broke through in the bottom of the second, using aggressive small ball to manufacture runs. Cylie Caldwell led off with a bunt single, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Lady Blackhawks error to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Tigers kept the pressure on as Dani Gibbs followed with a bunt single. Miley Walls executed a sacrifice bunt to bring home Abby Klingshirn, and Lillian Kaiser added another sacrifice bunt to score Gibbs, stretching the lead to 3-0 after two innings.
“We played small ball, we went at them hard,” Fisherback said. “The one inning we scored three runs. They had a few errors, but we are preparing for tournament and we have to be able to execute, and that inning we executed every bunt I called. We executed, moved runners, and scored.”
Buckingham said his team knew what to expect but couldn’t slow Ansonia’s approach.
“Give Ansonia credit – I knew what they were going to do,” Buckingham said. “They play small ball, they steal bases, they put pressure on our defense, we know that.”
Ansonia added an insurance run in the fourth when Addie Geyer crushed a solo home run to center field, pushing the lead to 4-0.
“Addison Geyer came in and blasted a no-doubter,” Fisherback said. “She hit a home run, that’s what she’s good for, she’s a good kid.”
“If we make a couple plays, we’re right in it,” Buckingham added. “Addie hits that home run for them, she got a hold of that. We just couldn’t get that hit.”
Walker did the rest, overpowering the Lady Blackhawks lineup from start to finish, keeping Mississinawa Valley hitless and off balance throughout the game.
Godfrey took the loss, surrendering four runs—two earned—over six innings while striking out seven and walking three.
Gibbs, Caldwell, and Geyer each recorded a hit for Ansonia, while Klingshirn, Walls, Kaiser, and Geyer each drove in a run.
“Defensively we played well,” Fisherback said. “We had two errors, but besides that pretty good win for us. We want to finish our conference strong and get ready for tournament. I am pleased with the girls. We have been working hard and staying at it, getting ready for our postseason run.”
Mississinawa Valley continues to search for consistency at the plate.
“We have gotten better at it – we’re getting better,” Buckingham said. “We just have to start hitting.”
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
000 000 0 0 0 2 Mississinawa Valley
030 100 X 4 3 2 Ansonia
