Monday, September 25, 2023

Hadley DeFreece Triples Twice, Bluejays Gain Run Rule Win for First Time

Hadley DeFreece hit two triples and she and Lindsey Jackson combined on a one hitter and Northeast Nodaway broke a two game losing skid, beating winless East Buchanan 11-1. The Bulldogs were winless this year and were run ruled in all of their games, and the Bluejays made sure that would continue.

The Bluejays were showing some rust as their games at North Andrew were called off Saturday due to lightning. Their last game had been six days before, when they invaded Plattsburg, got off to a bad start, and fell 9-4 to the perennial powerhouse Tigers. The sloppy play started in the Bulldog first when Hadley DeFreece plunked Madelyn McCoy, who took second and third on passed balls. An uncalled pop fly dropped in and McCoy scored.

With one out in the Bluejay first, Hadley DeFreece tripled to the center field wall. Haley Yost hit a short pop into no man’s land in front of second and beat it out to score Hadley and tie it 1-1.

With one out in the Bluejay second, Sasha Deardorff got the first of two slap hits as she beat out the second baseman and then stole second. Mylee Wilmes singled her in to make it 2-1, but after the Bluejays loaded the bases with one out, another baserunning gaffe occurred as nobody knew what the situation was and everybody froze as the Bulldogs turned a double play to get out of the inning.

Shades of the South Holt game from two years ago, in which the Bluejays handed the Knights their only win of the season in districts, were looming, but after that, the Bluejays started settling down as Jill Boswell had a catch at shortstop and Lindsey Jackson had a catch in center to deny the Bulldogs in the third. Hailey Yost reached on an error in the Bluejay third, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. Makenzie Pride grounded out to score her and make it 3-1 after three.

The Bulldogs tried to answer in the fourth with one out after Lindsey Jackson took over on the mound for NEN as Emrey Taylor singled, but after Lindsey Herpel struck out, Bluejay catcher Hailey Yost gunned down Taylor trying to steal. That seemed to spark the Bluejay bats in the fourth as Mylee Wilmes’ flare to left dropped in for a base hit. Jill Boswell laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate and reached for a hit as Wilmes took second. Hadley DeFreece got her second triple to bring them in and Brianna Meyer grounded out to score her. Makenzie Pride kept the Bluejays going with two outs when the Bulldog left fielder dropped her fly ball and it got away from her as Pride took third. Lindsey Jackson singled her home to make it 7-1.

Kaylee Barton reached on third baseman Brianna Meyer’s bobble with one out in the fifth, but it didn’t matter as pitcher Lindsey Jackson caught Madelyn McCoy’s line drive and doubled her off first.

Sasha Deardorff got her second slap hit of the game, hitting a slow roller down the third base line and beating it out. Mylee Wilmes singled her to second, and they took second and third on a wild pitch. Jill Boswell walked to load the bases and then Deardorff scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1 as everyone else moved up. Hadley DeFreece flied out to right field to score Wilmes and make it 9-1, and then Severia Hall grounded out to score Boswell to make it 10-1.

After Lindsey Jackson set down the Bulldogs in order in the sixth, Makenzie Pride singled to start the Bluejay sixth. Lindsey Jackson walked, and they took second and third on a wild pitch. Blair Nelson reached on a bobble by the second baseman as Pride crossed the plate and the Bluejays, for the first time this year, went home early.

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