Warsaw Softball Team Opens NLC Play By Beating Wawasee
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Anthony Gadson-agadson@timesuniononline.com
It may be an understatement to say the Warsaw softball team’s Northern Lakes Conference-opening win over Wawasee was much-needed. Beginning the season at 0-4, giving up 60 runs in that span, the Warsaw Lady Tigers (1-4, 1-0 NLC) held the Wawasee Lady Warriors’ (5-2, 0-1 NLC) offense in check Monday at the Tigers Athletic Complex, getting a 3-1 victory. “We needed a win,” Warsaw coach Jim Speicher said. “We had been (10) run-ruled in four-straight games. The girls have pride. They’ve put a lot of work in and they expect themselves to play better than they had in the first four games.” In three of the four losses, Warsaw actually led its opponent, but that lead would slip away and a lopsided loss would ensue. Against Wawasee, senior Kaleigh Speicher gave her team a 2-0 lead after one inning after launching a ball over the left-field fence, but this time, the lead held. Switching things up a bit, Speicher also got the start for the Lady Tigers, a job that had been her’s in previous years, but shoulder problems have made pitching tougher on her. Inside the circle, she pitched a complete game and was a calming influence. “Tonight we were able to get up and sustain it,” Speicher’s father/coach said. “I think we have a better mindset when they know we have her experience on the mound. They know she’s going to give a good effort, batter after batter. They know she’s not a strikeout pitcher, they’re going to get plays. We just seemed a little more confident tonight.” Speicher had been playing shortstop for the Lady Tigers, protecting her shoulder while also shoring up a struggling defense. However, after the rough start to the season, a change was made. “We talked over the weekend, about how she either needs to pitch or not at all, because this in-between isn’t working for her or the team,” Jim Speicher said. “She had come in a couple relief appearances here and there, but she couldn’t get a rhythm.” Icing her shoulder after each inning, it’s unclear whether or not she’ll be able to pitch Wednesday at home against Goshen, but she did enough to help her team get win No. 1. Spotted the 2-0 lead, Speicher did encounter some trouble in the third, as Wawasee scored a run on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Meghan Fretz. Her team down 2-1, junior Paige Hlutke drew a walk, putting runners at first and third with two outs. Junior Alli Ousley then appeared to have tied the game with a line drive up the middle, but the ball hit second base and bounced back into the infield, allowing the Lady Tigers to get the force out at second. “To me, that was kind of the ball game,” Wawasee coach Jared Knipper said. “We could have tied the game at 2-2 with two outs and a runner in scoring position, and no one knows what happens after that. That’s a momentum killer. “But that’s softball,” he added. “You have to be able to bounce back from that.” Warsaw added another run in the bottom of the fourth, as senior Ashley Ousley scored on a fielder’s choice. That 3-1 score went into the seventh, where Wawasee began things with back-to-back singles by junior Alexis Graber and freshman Megan Brito. With things looking good, sophomore Danielle Gunkel hit a line drive to senior shortstop Alexa Glass, who got the double play with a toss to second. Speicher then ended the game by inducing a pop out, squashing any hopes of a comeback by the Lady Warriors. “These teams are pretty evenly matched, and if things go our way – we get the win,” Knipper said. “Things just went their way and they got the win.” In the win, junior Karly Jones was 3 for 3, while Ousley was 2 for 3 with a double and a run for Warsaw. Like Warsaw, Wawasee also returns to NLC action Wednesday, hosting Elkhart Memorial.
