Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
As a leadoff hitter, Tera Clark's job is to get on base.
The talented sophomore shortstop did so Wednesday afternoon at the City-County Athletic Complex, helping her Warsaw Community High School varsity softball team to a 3-0 win over rival Wawasee.
Clark opened the home half of the third inning with a double off Warrior pitcher Catie Hapner and, after advancing to third on a sacrifice by classmate Heather Shepherd, scored what turned out be the game-winning run on an RBI single by junior Megan Wood.
Clark finished the game 3 for 3 at the plate, pounding out two doubles and a single. She scored twice, as she also plated the game's final run in the fifth inning, had one RBI and was walked once.
"Clark played an awesome game," said first-year Warsaw varsity coach Tanya Kempton, whose team improved to 7-10 overall and 6-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference. "She does what she needs to get on base. Sometimes she bunts. She's a very smart player. A lot of times I let her do what she wants (at the plate), and she usually makes the right decision."
As a team, the Tigers pounded out eight hits, while the Warriors managed to get just two hits off Warsaw pitchers Kelcy Martin and Andrea Harding.
Kacie Conley had two hits for the Tigers, while Martin, Wood and Shepherd each had one hit for the winners.
The loss dropped the Warriors to 5-15 overall and 2-6 in conference play.
Taylor Goshert and Amber Timmons each had a single for the Warriors.
Goshert's hit came in the game's first at-bat, while Timmons' single came in the fourth inning.
Other than the fourth inning, Wawasee never threatened offensively, as Martin and Harding gave up just two hits and struck out six. They walked three Wawasee batters.
Martin, who started the game and pitched four innings, picked up the win. After giving up a hit to Goshert to start the game, Martin retired the next 11 Wawasee batters.
Kempton said she took Martin out after the fourth inning because she was "sore."
"She pitched well," Kempton said of Martin. "She always does a good job for us. She was sore. I didn't want to hurt her and not have her pitch for a while."
Harding pitched the final three innings, not giving up any hits or runs. She walked one Wawasee batter.
"I thought she did a good job," Kempton said of Harding. "We know she's going to get hit more, but we're confident in the defense behind her."
For Wawasee, starting pitcher Catie Hapner took the loss. She pitched four innings, giving up six hits and three runs and walking two. Leigh Froebe replaced Hapner in the fifth inning and gave up two hits and two walks in two innings of work. She struck out two Warsaw batters.
The highlight of the game for Wawasee came in the fourth inning when the Warriors loaded the bases, though it turned out to be a low point as they didn't capitalize.
Kaylyn Price struck out to start the visitor's half of the fourth inning, and then Emilie Fleagle reached first with a walk. After Angie Beer struck out for the second out, Timmons singled and Kaylyn Lantz was walked.
With the bases loaded, the Warriors were in great position to cut into Warsaw's 1-0 advantage.
Instead, Martin got Kristin Lemaitre to ground out for the third out.
The Tigers then tacked on two insurances runs in the bottom of the inning.
Lindsey West reached second on an error and then scored on an RBI double by Clark, who scored on an RBI double from Shepherd.
Warsaw is in action again Friday at Goshen, while Wawasee travels to Elkhart Memorial Friday.
WARSAW 3, WAWASEE 0
Wawasee
AB R H RBI
Goshert ss 3 0 1 0
Price cf 1 0 0 0
Fleagle dp 2 0 0 0
Beer c 3 0 0 0
Timmons 1b 3 0 1 0
Lantz lf 2 0 0 0
Lemaitre rf 2 0 0 0
Sharp 3b 3 0 0 0
Walker 2b 3 0 0 0
Hapner p 0 0 0 0
Ort cf 1 0 0 0
Froebe p 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 0 2 0
Warsaw
AB R H RBI
Clark ss 3 2 3 1
Shepherd c 3 0 1 1
Wood cf 3 0 1 1
Conley rf 3 0 2 0
Kiser 3b 3 0 0 0
Martin p 2 0 1 0
West 1b 2 1 0 0
LaFollete dp 2 0 0 0
Mosby 3 0 0 0
Torrez ph 1 0 0 0
Sanders lf 0 0 0 0
Harding p 0 0 0 0
Totals 25 3 8 3
Wawasee (5-15, 2-6) 000 000 0 - 0 2 2
Warsaw (#7-10, 6-2) 001 200 3 - 3 8 1
2B - Clark (2), Shepherd.
IP H R BB SO
Wawasee
Hapner (L) 4 6 3 2 0
Froebe (5) 2 2 0 2 0
Warsaw
Martin (W) 4 2 0 2 6
Harding 3 0 0 1 0
