Worth County's softball team erupted for 57 runs in 3 games as they have now won three out of their last four games going into Monday's Senior Night game with North Andrew. Following their 13-12 loss to Princeton, they followed with a 20-6 win over Northeast Nodaway and then erupted for 25 runs against hapless Braymer, which gave them their second conference win of the year in a 25-8 win over Braymer. The Tigers now have six wins on the year, as opposed to one all of last year.
Northeast started off with a win over North Nodaway, but have not gotten any more as they have struggled to stop teams from scoring as they have had one lone win this year. Their hitting has been their biggest improvement; however, they have had games in which they would score a bunch of runs in one inning and then not do much for the rest of the game. Fading late has been one of their biggest problems this year; they fell behind 6-0 against Jefferson right off the bat and then held them scoreless for several innings before giving up five more runs and being run-ruled. Against Worth County, they were down only 8-5 before giving up 12 runs against the Tigers in the sixth and being run-ruled. If they find more consistency in their play, they will show improvement over their one-win season this year.
Playing their last home games for Northeast were Katrina Freemyer, Kristan Judd, and Ashl'e Moore. Also recognized at Senior Night were members of the Worth County/NEN football team Aaron Patton, Ethan Schmitz, Tyler Schmitz, and Kevin Stoll.
Northeast Nodaway struck first as Claudia Wiederholt tripled to the wall in right and then Katrina Freemyer reached on an error as Claudia scored in the bottom of the first. More and more teams have taken to using the makeshift 200-foot fences; however, Northeast Nodaway has not and the big outfield presented problems for both teams as well as balls hit in the gap. Worth County tied it at 1 in the second as Sidney Davenport singled to right to score Brianna Fletchall.
Worth County plated two in the third as Katie Mullock got an infield hit that scored Kristen Andrews. It was similar to the play that hurt Worth County against Princeton as Katie hit a slow roller into no-man's land that NEN second baseman Kerrigan Adwell got to but had no play on. Brianna Fletchall got her second hit of the night, a two out single that scored Katie Mullock. The Tigers have gotten a lot of runs with two outs this year.
Normally, Kristen Andrews has been a left-handed slap hitter all year. But with two strikes on her and two on in the fourth, Kristen turned around and batted from the right side of the plate and doubled down the left field line to score Haven Schottel and Claire Andrews to make it 8-1. Rebecca Moore reached on an error as Kerrigan Adwell bobbled a grounder to score Kristen and Katie Mullock was hit by a pitch. They successfully pulled off a delayed double steal which led to some more runs as Rebecca Moore stole third and then Katie Mullock stole second after Rebecca had successfully made it, meaning that there was now a first and third situation. Kaitlyn Davidson walked to load the bases and then Brianna Fletchall grounded into a force at home. But then Katie Mullock beat out a force play at the plate. Sidney Davenport grounded into a force at the plate, but NEN catcher Bailey Judd threw away the double play attempt, allowing another run to score and making it 8-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Worth County gave up two runs, but an outstanding defensive play prevented more from scoring. Shayna Dougan walked and went to second and third on wild pitches as Worth County pitcher Kacey Smyser started tiring. Bailey Judd then walked. Worth County attempted a pickoff play at first and Shayna Dougan broke for the plate, but Brianna Fletchall made a strong throw home to get her out as Bailey took second. Northeast, with two outs, then put together three straight flare hits to score two runs. Dallis Coffelt hit a chopper at Sidney that she had no play on, Claudia Wiederholt hit one just past Kristen Andrews, and Kristan Judd hit a shot off Kacey Smyser's glove.
Northeast continued to chip away in the fifth as Dallis Coffelt walked in a run on four pitches. Claire Andrews replaced Kacey Smyser and walked in another run before Kristen Andrews caught a pop fly to end the threat.
In the top of the sixth, Kacey Smyser walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Sidney Davenport flied out to Dallis Coffelt, who initially misjudged the ball but then made a nice basket catch for the first out. Claire Andrews then tripled down the line in left to score Kacey as once again, the big outfield wreaked havoc on the defense. Haven Schottel walked; putting Haven on the basepaths has been a sure sign of trouble for teams facing the Tigers this year. Haven stole second but Kristen Andrews struck out for the second out of the inning with the score still 9-5. But Worth County would go on to score 11 of their 12 runs with two outs in the inning. It was similar to the Albany game earlier this year in which they scored most of their 17 runs with two outs.
The short backstop at Northeast prevents a lot of runs from scoring that would otherwise score on a wild pitch because the ball's bounce is unpredictable and could bounce right back at the catcher for an easy out. But Claire Andrews pulled it off as a wild pitch hung in the air forever and she made it home easily. Rebecca Moore then dug a pitch out of the dirt and lined it into center to score Haven and stole second. Katie Mullock then hit a high chopper into center for a hit and it was misplayed for an error. Once again, the huge outfield was unforgiving to both teams as Katie circled the bases and Rebecca Moore also scored. Kaitlyn Davidson and Brianna Fletchall were hit by pitches, finishing pitcher Shayna Dougan. Dallis Coffelt came into pitch for Northeast, but Worth County continued to run at will on the basepaths as Brianna Fletchall, Sidney Davenport, and Kacey Smyser scored on wild pitches and Rebecca Moore had a three-run single just over second.
There was a scary moment in the bottom of the sixth as Kristan Judd was out at the plate on a collision and was shaken up; however, she was OK. Freshman Allie Runde showed some promise with her bat as she came off the bench and hit a triple to the right field run to score Jenny Seipel.
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