The Tippecanoe Valley Lady Vikings were the latest victim of the Warsaw softball team’s big bats. In a 9-1 win at the Tiger Athletic Complex Friday evening, the Lady Tigers (18-8) hit three home runs against the Lady Vikings (8-15), a feat Warsaw had just accomplished Thursday in a 9-4 home win over Elkhart Memorial. “They’ve got some pretty good hitters in that lineup,” Valley coach John Strong said. “I knew (Kelsey) Dotson as a home run, power hitter and we kind of served her up a couple. You can’t do that with her.” Dotson, a junior who’s already verbally committed to Indiana University, went 3 for 4 in Warsaw’s fifth-straigh win, hitting two home runs and finishing the game with four RBIs. However, Dotson wasn’t the only Lady Tiger that Valley needed to worry about. Dotson currently owns Warsaw’s single-season home run record, hitting her ninth and 10th Friday, but Warsaw junior Kendra Marshall also has seven this year, as does freshman Kaleigh Speicher, who added her seventh in the win. “Our (Nos.) 1, 2, 3 and 4 hitters are all hitting over .400 right now, so we’re glad when we roll the lineup over and see them come up,” Warsaw coach Jim Speicher said. “All four of them are having quality at-bats and that puts the pitcher in a lot of problems.” Warsaw’s lineup begins with sophomore Alex Sanchez, and she helped give her team a lead it didn’t relinquish. Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, Warsaw had runners at first and second with two outs when Sanchez came to the plate. With Valley one out away from ending the inning, Sanchez hit an RBI double, which was followed by a two-RBI triple by Marshall, an RBI single by Dotson and a two-run homer by Kaleigh Speicher. Once the dust settled, the Lady Tigers had scored six two-out runs, putting enough distance between themselves and the Lady Vikings. “We’ve been hitting the ball pretty consistently over the last week-and-a-half,” Jim Speicher said. Sanchez began the rally, which benefited her the most, as she picked up the win in the circle, striking out 12 Lady Vikings. “When she stays ahead and hits her spots, she’s real competitive,” Jim Speicher said about Sanchez. “She’s done a good job for us when she’s had control and been able to get ahead of hitters.” The pitch that gave the Valley hitters the most fits was her change-up, which time and time again left hitters swinging wildly, but coming up empty. “There was so many more off-speed pitches than there were fastballs,” Strong said. “The hitters were just so far in front, they just couldn’t hold up and hit.” One Lady Viking who didn’t seem overmatched was sophomore Mariah Benzing, who went 2 for 3 with a double. Senior Kaley Shewman gave Valley an early 1-0 lead with an RBI-double, but after that early run, the Lady Vikings got just four hits over the next six innings. Despite the loss, Strong was able to come away with a positive attitude. “When you play tougher competition, it’s going to benefit you more,” he said. Both teams are back in action today, as Valley travels to the Caston Tournament, while Warsaw hosts Carroll for an 11 a.m. doubleheader. Following its season finale today, Warsaw will turn its attention to Class 4A Sectional 4, which will be held at Warsaw. Receiving a first-round bye, Warsaw will take on Northridge Wednesday at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing on to the Friday night championship game. During the season, Warsaw struggled against Northridge, losing 12-1 on May 4 at home and 14-3 May 13 in Middlebury. “We haven’t played real well against Northridge in the two conference games we’ve had against them this year,” Jim Speicher said. “Right now, we’re sitting on 29 homers, which is a school record for one season. We’re scoring consistently, but we’ve scored one and three against Northridge. I’ll be interested to see if we can stay hot come Wednesday night.”
WARSAW 9, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 1 V 100 000 0 – 1 6 1 W 160 200 X – 9 11 1 Alex Sanchez (W, 7IP, 1R, 1ER, 6H, 12K, 2BB) and Kelsey Dotson; Ashleigh Rutherford (L, 6IP, 9R, 8ER, 11H, 2K, 3BB) and Chrissy Hilliard 2B – Sanchez (W), Speicher (W), Mariah Benzing (V), Kaley Shewman (V) 3B – Kendra Marshall (W) HR – Dotson (W) 2, Speicher (W) Records: Warsaw 18-8, Valley 8-15
