Lady Warriors Beat Lakeland Lakers
March 28, 2017 at 3:44 p.m.
Lady Warriors Beat Lakeland Lakers
By Dale [email protected]
But after just two games, said first-year Wawasee High School softball coach Michael Barger, nobody is.
Hosting the Lakeland Lakers Monday afternoon, the Lady Warriors mustered just three hits but capitalized on four walks with sacrifice bunts in a 6-2 win.
Improving to 2-0 on the season, Wawasee scored one run in each of the first three innings, two in the fourth and one in the sixth.
“Offensively, we're not where we want to be," said Barger, who coached previously at West Noble. “But then again, who is right now? You know, two games in, who's really where they want to be? Things are coming together, so yeah, I’m pleased right now.”
Sophomore Grace Anne Kerlin and seniors Madie Wilson and Amber Lemberg each hit a single in the win.
Lemberg also got the victory in the pitcher's circle, giving up just two hits while striking out five and not issuing a walk in seven innings of work.
“I thought she did a great job,” Barger said of Lemberg. “She missed some spots, but it's still early (in the season). We're working in and out, and up in the zone, it's just a lot of new things for these kids. I've brought a lot of expectations to them, and I thought she threw a good game.”
Lakeland sophomore Gabrielle Norton was charged with the loss after giving up three hits, six runs and four walks. She struck out one Wawasee batter in six innings of work.
Moving runners around the bases with bunt attempts was the key to the Lady Warriors’ success, and playing “small ball” is in Barger’s blood. It’s the way his brother, current Wawasee assistant Brian Barger coached at Tippecanoe Valley, and it’s the way their father, Earl Barger, coaches in summer league play.
“I live and die by it,” said Michael Barger. “If you saw our Westview game (an 11-3 season-opening win Saturday), it was the exact same thing.
“Right now, I don’t feel offensively that we can powerhouse anybody. I feel like we’ve got enough speed that we can do the little things. We’ve got very good bunters on the team. We’ve got fundamentals of running the bases, and doing the basics. It’s all about the basics.”
Sophomores Makayla Mast and Christa Parham each hit a single for Lakeland, which fell to 0-3 on the season after being outscored 20-3 so far.
The Lakers scored both of their runs in the top of the sixth inning, cutting Wawasee’s advantage to 5-2.
Both teams committed three fielding errors.
The Lady Warriors, who have outscored their two opponents 17-5, are in action again today when they host West Noble.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the kids,” Barger said when asked about facing his former players tonight. “I did the things I needed to do there and got back home. This is where I like to be.
“We’re ready to go. I think the players know what it means to me. It’s just a matter of we need to be ready to go offensively right from the start. That’s the key against West Noble.”
WAWASEE 6, LAKELAND 2
L 000 002 0 – 2 2 3
W 111 201 X – 6 3 3
Lakeland – Gabrielle Norton (L, 6IP, 3H, 6R, 1K, 5BB)
Wawasee – Amber Lemberg (W, 7IP, 2H, 2R, 5K, 0BB)
Records: Lakeland 0-3, Wawasee 2-0
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But after just two games, said first-year Wawasee High School softball coach Michael Barger, nobody is.
Hosting the Lakeland Lakers Monday afternoon, the Lady Warriors mustered just three hits but capitalized on four walks with sacrifice bunts in a 6-2 win.
Improving to 2-0 on the season, Wawasee scored one run in each of the first three innings, two in the fourth and one in the sixth.
“Offensively, we're not where we want to be," said Barger, who coached previously at West Noble. “But then again, who is right now? You know, two games in, who's really where they want to be? Things are coming together, so yeah, I’m pleased right now.”
Sophomore Grace Anne Kerlin and seniors Madie Wilson and Amber Lemberg each hit a single in the win.
Lemberg also got the victory in the pitcher's circle, giving up just two hits while striking out five and not issuing a walk in seven innings of work.
“I thought she did a great job,” Barger said of Lemberg. “She missed some spots, but it's still early (in the season). We're working in and out, and up in the zone, it's just a lot of new things for these kids. I've brought a lot of expectations to them, and I thought she threw a good game.”
Lakeland sophomore Gabrielle Norton was charged with the loss after giving up three hits, six runs and four walks. She struck out one Wawasee batter in six innings of work.
Moving runners around the bases with bunt attempts was the key to the Lady Warriors’ success, and playing “small ball” is in Barger’s blood. It’s the way his brother, current Wawasee assistant Brian Barger coached at Tippecanoe Valley, and it’s the way their father, Earl Barger, coaches in summer league play.
“I live and die by it,” said Michael Barger. “If you saw our Westview game (an 11-3 season-opening win Saturday), it was the exact same thing.
“Right now, I don’t feel offensively that we can powerhouse anybody. I feel like we’ve got enough speed that we can do the little things. We’ve got very good bunters on the team. We’ve got fundamentals of running the bases, and doing the basics. It’s all about the basics.”
Sophomores Makayla Mast and Christa Parham each hit a single for Lakeland, which fell to 0-3 on the season after being outscored 20-3 so far.
The Lakers scored both of their runs in the top of the sixth inning, cutting Wawasee’s advantage to 5-2.
Both teams committed three fielding errors.
The Lady Warriors, who have outscored their two opponents 17-5, are in action again today when they host West Noble.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the kids,” Barger said when asked about facing his former players tonight. “I did the things I needed to do there and got back home. This is where I like to be.
“We’re ready to go. I think the players know what it means to me. It’s just a matter of we need to be ready to go offensively right from the start. That’s the key against West Noble.”
WAWASEE 6, LAKELAND 2
L 000 002 0 – 2 2 3
W 111 201 X – 6 3 3
Lakeland – Gabrielle Norton (L, 6IP, 3H, 6R, 1K, 5BB)
Wawasee – Amber Lemberg (W, 7IP, 2H, 2R, 5K, 0BB)
Records: Lakeland 0-3, Wawasee 2-0
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