Lady Wolverines trounce Fruitland Grizzlies 18-3

Weiser’s varsity softball team took an early seven-run lead and didn’t look back in Fruitland on Monday, April 11, beating the Grizzlies 18-3 in five innings.

 Third at bat in the top of the first, Weiser’s Tobie Noyer started the scoring with a two-run homer on the second pitch. Fifth in the line-up, Abi Wilkins followed suit, homering on a line drive to left field and sending Macy Maloney home ahead of her.

 After doubling on a fly ball to center, Paisley Noyer advanced to third on a steal. Grace Swank doubled on a line drive to left, scoring Noyer. Courtesy runner Rylee Roberts took over at second for Swank and advanced to third on a passed ball. Taylor Bushong singled on a line drive to left and Roberts went home. With bases loaded, Whitney Cordes went to first on a walk, sending Bushong home and putting Weiser up 7-0 before the final out.

 Fruitland went three up, three down in the bottom half, but kept the Wolverines from scoring  in the top of the second. Another three up, three down in the bottom held the score at 7-0 in Weiser’s favor.

 The Wolverines had another productive half in the top of the third, adding five runs. First at bat, Bushong was hit by the fourth pitch and got on base. She advanced to second on a throw to first when Mecarte Olsen grounded out in her at bat. Ivy Morris doubled on a line drive to center, scoring Bushong. Cordes went to first after being hit by the second pitch. T. Noyer singled on a hard ground ball to second, then a series of throwing errors scored Morris, while advancing Cordes to third, and Noyer to second.

 With two outs, and Wilkins at the plate, Cordes and Noyer both scored on a passed ball. Wilkins and P. Noyer were both walked. The pair respectively stole third and second, then Wilkins stole home on a passed ball while Noyer advanced to third. Swank walked, but the half inning ended by an out on the base paths. Weiser led 12-0.

 Annabelle Mattson took over in the circle for the Wolverines in the third. The first Fruitland batter was out on a pop out in foul territory to third baseman Morris. A ground out to Mattson and a throw to Olsen at first was good for the second out. A dropped third strike and solid throw to Olsen put the Wolverines back on offense.

 Five walks, and one single by Olsen produced three more runs for the Wolverines in the top of the fourth. The Grizzlies were stalled by a ground out, a strikeout, and a fly out to end the inning with Weiser holding on to a 15-0 lead.

 G. Swank got on base on an error, advancing to second on the same error. Bushong grounded out, and Swank moved to third on the throw. Olsen and Morris were both hit by a pitch, and Cordes was walked, scoring the lead runner, Swank. Mattson singled on a line drive to center, sending Olsen home.

 With Maloney at bat, Fruitland’s pitcher. M. Mooney sent a quick throw to second, where Cordes was caught off base and tagged out. Maloney singled on a line drive to center, scoring Morris. A fielding error advanced Mattson to third. A ground out in the next at bat had the Wolverines up 18-0.

 Mattson struck out the first batter in the bottom half. The next batter was hit by the pitch, and the third hitter made it to first on a fielding error. M. Stringer singled on a hard ground ball to left field, scoring B. Looten for the Grizzlies first run.

 One strikeout and one walk later, L. Mason hit a hard ground ball, reaching first on an infield error, while M. Hillman scored. G. Swope got on base on a third strike passed ball, and Stringer scored from third base. Morris scooped up a ground out at third, throwing it to Olsen at first for the final out, and the 18-3 win.