Northeast Nodaway overcame a rough start in the first inning and scored eight in the second and seven in the third to take an 18-3 win over Winston. Northeast matched their win total from last year with the win, picking up their seventh; Winston, with only two wins on the year, came in on a prolonged slump, having lost by 10 or more runs in seven out of their last eight games. They have only given up fewer than ten runs in two of their games this year.
And yet the first inning gave them a glimmer of hope as NEN pitcher Maggie Schmitz plunked Abby Rhoades and walked Sophie Pliley. Up came Teagan Caldwell, who promptly tripled to right center to bring in two runs. Holly Caldwell was up next and hit a line drive to left field. Delaney McIntyre made a diving try for it, missed, and the ball got by her. But shortstop Paige West hustled all the way from short to get the ball and hold her to a single.
Winston was in an unfamiliar position, up 3-0. Darryen Ragan walked, but then Tanleigh Sheetz popped out to Blair Stoll at first; she promptly tagged Ragan out at first for a double play to totally swing the momentum back in NEN’s favor. Amy Caldwell was hit by a pitch, but Emily Perry grounded out to end the inning.
It still looked like it would be a long day for Northeast as Makayla Adwell grounded out and Maggie Schmitz flied out. But all of a sudden, Paige West tripled over left fielder Holly Caldwell’s head. Anne Schieber walked and then Paige West, despite the short fence, scored on a wild pitch as Schieber took second. It was West’s hustle in the field and on the basepaths that set the tone for Northeast after their rough start and helped turn things around.
Blair Stoll was next; she was at 2-2, when pitcher Sophie Pliley narrowly missed strike three twice and walked her; Schieber took third on a wild pitch during that at-bat. Consecutive errors by second baseman Emily Perry scored both Stoll and Schieber to tie it at 3-3 after one.
Winston had another chance to take the lead in the second when Sophie Pliley was plunked with two outs and stole second. But once again, Paige West denied them as Teagan Caldwell, already with a triple for the day, shot one that got past third baseman Anne Schieber and looked headed for a base hit. But West got to it, stopped it, and threw her out by a half step to preserve the tie.
The Redbirds would not get another chance. Exchange student Ilenia Ricci, who had only gotten one varsity hit all year, hit a flare over first into right field for a base hit to start the second and Makayla Adwell reached on a throwing error when Madisyn Beaty threw it away, putting runners on first and third. Adwell stole second and Maggie Schmitz beat out Beaty’s throw to first, only for Ricci to get thrown out breaking for home after the throw to first. Adwell took third on the play.
That seemed to stall NEN’s momentum, but then Paige West walked and Anne Schieber hit a bases-clearing double that bounded past third and took a bad hop on the edge of the grass to make it 6-3. Blair Stoll singled and made it all the way to third when centerfielder Abby Rhoades let it get by. Angela Standiford reached safely when Beaty dropped her soft line drive, scoring Stoll.
Cassy Redden and Delaney McIntyre walked, and then Standiford scored on a wild pitch as everybody else moved up. Adwell reached on another error to cap the rally with NEN up 11-3 and in control.
Paige West walked to start the third for Northeast and stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Teagan Caldwell. She came home on a wild pitch; pitcher Sophie Pliley tried to cover, collided with West, and injured her hand and was done for the game as Paige was safe with her second dash home of the game. That opened up the floodgates for Northeast as Teagan Caldwell came in to pitch and walked the next four batters. Walks lead to errors and a throwing error by the Redbirds let in three runs as Delaney McIntyre reached first safely. McIntyre took second and third on wild pitches, Ilenia Ricci walked and stole second, and Makayla Adwell beat out an infield single, beating the throw from short as McIntyre scored and Ricci held at second. They took second and third on a wild pitch, Maggie Schmitz, and Paige West, fittingly, provided the final blow when she flied out to score Ricci for the 15 run rule win.
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