Runs were scarce on Friday night as the Wawasee and Manchester softball teams met in Syracuse. Both team’s starting pitchers turned in outstanding performances to keep things tight the entire way. In the end, the two runs scored by the Lady Warriors in the first two innings would be enough for a 2-1 win.
The game began with some dominance in the circle by Wawasee starting pitcher Haylee Allen. The senior retired all three hitters she faced, striking out one, on her way to a flawless first inning. Allen would support her cause in the bottom of the first, singling up the middle on the first pitch of the frame as the Lady Warriors’ leadoff hitter. Allen would end up on third a few batters later on a single by Ava Couture, and would score the game’s first run a hitter later on a sacrifice fly by Evelyn Duncan.
The Lady Squires would register their first hit of the game in the top of the second on a double by McKelvey Espeset. She would make it to third base on a groundout, but was unable to get across home as Allen struck out Savannah Evans after a good battle to end the threat and the inning.
The bottom of the second began with some fireworks for Wawasee, as Ashlynn Corn got a hold of one and sent it over the left field fence for a home run. It didn’t stop there for the Lady Warriors, as the home side was able to load the bases with two outs after a hit by Kenadi Pierce, a hit-by-pitch and a walk. Manchester was able to escape without any further damage as starting pitcher Molly Schannep got her third strikeout of the game to end the inning.
No balls were put in play in the top of the third, as Allen struck out three hitters to give her five punch outs for the game while also mixing in a hit-by-pitch to Paxton Baker. The Lady Warriors were poised to add on to their lead once more in the bottom of the third as Duncan led the inning off with a double down the third base line, but she was thrown out trying to take third base on a grounder to short in the next at bat in what was a 6-3-5 double play. Schannep used her fourth K of the game to send the game to the fourth.

    Junior Molly Schannep of Manchester follows through after releasing her pitch to the plate. Photo by Gary Nieter

Manchester was finally able to break through in the top of the fourth, scoring its first run of the game. Hadley West was able to reach second standing up on an error in left field, and with two outs in the inning, attempted to steal third. The throw to the bag was high and ended up in the outfield, allowing West to reach home and cut the Lady Squire deficit in half. Outside of a two-out single by Iliana Burelison in the bottom of the fourth, Schannep was able to navigate through the inning with minimal trouble, keeping it a one-run game as the fifth inning got started.
Allen struck out the first two hitters she saw in the top of the fifth before a two-out single by Raegen Shaw put the tying run on base. Pinch runner Allie Egolf stole second to get into scoring position, but Allen was able to neutralize the threat with yet another punch out. Schannep continued the pitcher’s duel a half inning later, posting her first clean inning of the game, and the first for either team since the top of the first, with two ground out and a pop out to first.
Elizabeth Renz started off the top of the six inning with some great contact for Manchester, sending a ball to deep center field. Couture was able to make the catch though, and Allen took care of it from there, getting the next two outs with a soft grounder to first and a lazy fly ball to right to put the Lady Warriors just three outs away from victory.
Corn ripped a double into the gap in left-center for her second hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth, but otherwise, Schannep was able to take care of business, doing her job and keeping it a one-run game as her team stepped up to bat for its last chance in the top of the seventh.
The Lady Squires would put the tying run on base in the form of a one-out walk to Saydah Burke. She’d get herself into scoring position by stealing second, and with the throw down going over the second baseman’s head, Burke was able to get to third with two outs. But Allen would prove to be too much, getting a strikeout to end the game and put the finishing touches on a complete-game victory in which she gave up just two hits and one unearned run while striking out 12.
Both teams are in action Saturday morning, as Wawasee (4-1) plays at Triton while Manchester (2-4) hosts Fremont.