Whitko Softball Wins Big On Senior Night

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor-

SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊSenior night was good to Whitko pitcher Stacy Socha. Not only is Socha a senior, but she tossed a one-hitter to lead the Wildcats to a 23-0 win over Three Rivers Conference opponent Tippecanoe Valley Wednesday night in South Whitley.

"Stacy did a fantastic job," said Whitko coach Marla Burkhart. "She allowed just one hit and one walk. She is pitching very well."

Due to a gas leak at Tippecanoe Valley High School and the resulting evacuation, the Vikings arrived in South Whitley later than expected. Once the Valley squad was allowed to get its equipment from inside the school, the Vikings were on their way to South Whitley for the TRC matchup.

Although the game started late, the Wildcats jumped out to a lead early.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Whitko squad took control. After the first batter, Jana Rowland, reached base on an error, Dana Sellers moved to first base on a walk. Then another error allowed Hannah VanHoozen to reach base.

By the end of the first inning, Whitko held an 8-0 lead, but the Wildcats were not finished.

In the third frame, Whitko added to its lead when Sellers hit a single and eventually scored to put the Wildcats up 9-0.

After Socha retired three straight Viking batters in the top of the fourth, the Wildcat offense pounced again.

Whitko capitalized on walks and Valley errors to produce 14 runs in the fourth frame and take a 23-0 advantage.

"Senior night is always an emotional game," said Burkhart. "And I thought the girls responded very well."

The Vikings were unable to overcome the deficit in the top of the fifth, and Whitko picked up the win, making it 16-5 overall and 5-2 in TRC play. Valley falls to 3-18 overall an 0-5 in the TRC.

"We had a gas leak at school, and three of the girls in the starting lineup were feeling sick," said Valley coach Michele Atkins. "I think that was a factor in how we played. It is not an excuse, but it didn't help matters any either."

The Wildcats scattered six hits in four innings, with VanHoozen adding two of them. Leah Winger, Dana Sellers, Katie Trump and Jaclyn Glazer each had one hit for Whitko.

Valley's lone hit came in the second inning when Lashell Weaver hit the ball up the middle for a single.

Socha went the distance for the Wildcats, pitching five innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts to get the win.

Kayla Newman was credited with the loss after three innings of work. She allowed 14 runs (five earned runs) with five hits, two strikeouts and 10 walks. Amy Saner entered in the fourth inning, allowing nine runs (eight earned), one hit and nine walks.

WHITKO 23,

TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0

Valley 000 00 - 0 1 7

Whitko 801 (14)X - 23 6 0

Valley AB R H RBI

Sroufe 4 0 0 0

Powell 2 0 0 0

Kinsel 2 0 0 0

Ramsey 2 0 0 0

Weaver 2 0 1 0

Foster 1 0 0 0

Utter 1 0 0 0

Eiser 2 0 0 0

Newman 0 0 0 0

Kitch 1 0 0 0

Totals 15 0 1 0

Whitko AB R H RBI

Rowland 3 3 0 1

Winger 4 2 1 2

Sellers 2 4 1 0

Socha 4 2 0 0

VanHoozen 3 2 2 1

Arnett 1 0 0 0

Trump 2 2 1 1

Langohr 0 0 0 1

Burelison 2 3 0 0

Boggs 1 2 0 1

Yeager 1 2 0 1

Glaze 1 1 1 1

Totals 23 23 6 9

IP R ER H BB K

Valley

Newman, L 3 14 5 5 10 2

Saner 1 9 8 1 9 1

Whitko

Socha, W 5 0 0 1 1 3

HB - Saner 2. [[In-content Ad]]

SOUTH WHITLEY -ÊSenior night was good to Whitko pitcher Stacy Socha. Not only is Socha a senior, but she tossed a one-hitter to lead the Wildcats to a 23-0 win over Three Rivers Conference opponent Tippecanoe Valley Wednesday night in South Whitley.

"Stacy did a fantastic job," said Whitko coach Marla Burkhart. "She allowed just one hit and one walk. She is pitching very well."

Due to a gas leak at Tippecanoe Valley High School and the resulting evacuation, the Vikings arrived in South Whitley later than expected. Once the Valley squad was allowed to get its equipment from inside the school, the Vikings were on their way to South Whitley for the TRC matchup.

Although the game started late, the Wildcats jumped out to a lead early.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Whitko squad took control. After the first batter, Jana Rowland, reached base on an error, Dana Sellers moved to first base on a walk. Then another error allowed Hannah VanHoozen to reach base.

By the end of the first inning, Whitko held an 8-0 lead, but the Wildcats were not finished.

In the third frame, Whitko added to its lead when Sellers hit a single and eventually scored to put the Wildcats up 9-0.

After Socha retired three straight Viking batters in the top of the fourth, the Wildcat offense pounced again.

Whitko capitalized on walks and Valley errors to produce 14 runs in the fourth frame and take a 23-0 advantage.

"Senior night is always an emotional game," said Burkhart. "And I thought the girls responded very well."

The Vikings were unable to overcome the deficit in the top of the fifth, and Whitko picked up the win, making it 16-5 overall and 5-2 in TRC play. Valley falls to 3-18 overall an 0-5 in the TRC.

"We had a gas leak at school, and three of the girls in the starting lineup were feeling sick," said Valley coach Michele Atkins. "I think that was a factor in how we played. It is not an excuse, but it didn't help matters any either."

The Wildcats scattered six hits in four innings, with VanHoozen adding two of them. Leah Winger, Dana Sellers, Katie Trump and Jaclyn Glazer each had one hit for Whitko.

Valley's lone hit came in the second inning when Lashell Weaver hit the ball up the middle for a single.

Socha went the distance for the Wildcats, pitching five innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts to get the win.

Kayla Newman was credited with the loss after three innings of work. She allowed 14 runs (five earned runs) with five hits, two strikeouts and 10 walks. Amy Saner entered in the fourth inning, allowing nine runs (eight earned), one hit and nine walks.

WHITKO 23,

TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0

Valley 000 00 - 0 1 7

Whitko 801 (14)X - 23 6 0

Valley AB R H RBI

Sroufe 4 0 0 0

Powell 2 0 0 0

Kinsel 2 0 0 0

Ramsey 2 0 0 0

Weaver 2 0 1 0

Foster 1 0 0 0

Utter 1 0 0 0

Eiser 2 0 0 0

Newman 0 0 0 0

Kitch 1 0 0 0

Totals 15 0 1 0

Whitko AB R H RBI

Rowland 3 3 0 1

Winger 4 2 1 2

Sellers 2 4 1 0

Socha 4 2 0 0

VanHoozen 3 2 2 1

Arnett 1 0 0 0

Trump 2 2 1 1

Langohr 0 0 0 1

Burelison 2 3 0 0

Boggs 1 2 0 1

Yeager 1 2 0 1

Glaze 1 1 1 1

Totals 23 23 6 9

IP R ER H BB K

Valley

Newman, L 3 14 5 5 10 2

Saner 1 9 8 1 9 1

Whitko

Socha, W 5 0 0 1 1 3

HB - Saner 2. [[In-content Ad]]

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