Bluejay Softball Erupts in 20-5 Senior Night Win

Northeast Nodaway's softball team picked up its third win of the year after they erupted for 15 runs in the third inning to down Winston 20-5. It looked like it would be a track meet at first as nobody could stop each other through the first two innings and the game was tied 5-5. But then Northeast broke the game wide open in the third. It was the final home game for seniors Alicia Smith and Vanessa Riley, who were honored after the game.

Gill Heldenbrand grounded out in the top of the first to score Sophie Pliley to put Winston up 1-0. The Redbirds had won one game this year, a 19-6 shellacking of Tri-County in the HDC Tournament. They were looking for another one before the regular season was out. Later in the inning, Taylor Coffelt threw out Maggie Farrell stealing to stop any other threats.

Jana Walker walked and stole second and came home after Makayla Adwell beat out an infield hit to second. Adwell stole second and took third when shortstop Josie McFee let the ball get away. Alicia Smith, who hit the ball hard all night but right at people, grounded out to score Adwell.

NEN pitcher Maggie Schmitz fought the strike zone in the second; she walked Ashley Noel and Shelby Mason and gave up a single to Ashley Gadberry to load the bases. Northeast threw the ball all over the place as two runs came across the plate; a dropped fly ball allowed two more to score to put Winston up 5-2.

In the third, Vanessa Riley struck out, but it was dropped and Gerry Runde crossed the plate as Winston threw to first. Makayla Adwell's two run triple to center tied it at 5-5.

Makayla Adwell's backhanded grab of Gadberry's line drive prevented any further damage in the Winston half of the third. In the bottom of the third, Taylor Coffelt was safe after being picked off third and escaping a rundown and scoring. Winston pitcher Sophie Pliley walked six straight batters; two were forced home to score and Vanessa Riley scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-5 and Pliley was finished. Josie McFee replaced Pliley, but Northeast teed off on her as Makayla Adwell singled over a drawn-in Redbird infield as they were trying to force out a runner at the plate, and then Alicia Smith, who had hit it hard and right at the red shirts all evening, finally blasted a three run triple to the right field wall that cleared the bases and broke the game open with Northeast up 13-5.

Taylor Coffelt came up next and blasted a shot over the center fielder's head and made it to third. But then she took off on a lazy return throw to the pitcher and was safe at home for a two run home run. Emily Redden hit a rocket to the wall in left that went for a triple, Vanessa Riley, Brittany Moran, and Jana Walker all walked to force in a run, Riley scored again on a wild pitch, Maggie Schmitz stretched a single into a double to bring in a run, and Makayla Adwell beat out an infield hit to bring in the 20th run and end the game on the mercy rule.