Batesville is making a habit of traveling to Mt. Vernon High School for regional action. The Lady Bulldogs advanced to the softball regional last spring, the volleyball regional in the fall, girl’s basketball regional this past winter and to the softball again Saturday.
Unfortunately, the end result has been the same in each of the three trips – a loss in the regional.
No. 1 New Palestine shut out the Lady Bulldogs 7-0 in the first semifinal Saturday to end Batesville run.
“Our girls made some fantastic plays in the field ... were diving after balls and never gave up,” BHS head coach Dave Butt commented. “We talked before the game about leaving it on the field today and they just gave an outstanding effort.”
New Palestine’s standout pitcher Sara Evans was in control on the mound. Evans entered the regional with a 0.41 ERA and 229 strikeouts. She pitched five and two-thirds innings allowing two hits, no runs, no walks and one hit batter while striking out 12.
Michelle Marcum pitched in relief and allowed one hit while striking out four in her 1 1/3 innings on the mound.
The Lady Dragons took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Evans walked and Julie Whitaker pinch-ran for the Lady Dragon ace. Lauren Schroeder doubled to put runners on second and third. Whitaker came in to score the first run on a wild pitch. Kaitlyn Smith also walked for the Lady Dragons in the inning, but Batesville pitcher Devin Moorman got a strikeout and ground out to get out of the inning with just one run on the New Palestine side of the scoreboard.
The Lady Bulldogs’ first nine batters went down in order – eight on strikeouts and one on a popped up bunt attempt.
Moorman retired the Lady Dragons in order in the top of the second with two strikeouts.
The Lady Dragons then added to the lead in the third. Katie Prosser doubled to get things started. Evans put down a sacrifice bunt to move Prosser to third. After an intentional walk to Schroeder, Marcum delivered the RBI sacrifice fly to push the lead to 2-0.
Smith singled with two outs to put Lady Dragons at first and third. As pinch runner Hanna McBride went to second on the steal, Batesville catcher Ashley Wuestefeld threw to sister Amy Wuestefeld at shortstop, who threw to Madison Lamppert to pick off the Lady Dragon runner at third.
After three innings, the defending state champion Lady Dragons led 2-0.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Jamie Story singled. Taylor Roach walked and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Alexa Cavin’s ground out scored Story to push the lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Amy Wuestefeld singled up the middle for the first hit for Batesville. The Lady Bulldogs were unable to move her around as New Palestine remained on top 3-0.
Evans walked to open the top of the fifth inning. After Moorman struck out the next Lady Dragon hitter, Marcum doubled to deep right field to plate courtesy runner Whitaker. Clare Myers ran for Marcum and scored as Smith reached on a Batesville fielding error. New Palestine led 5-0.
Batesville threatened in the bottom of the fifth. Jenny Meyer dropped a single into right field to open the inning. With one out, Lamppert was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up on the ground out by Sarah Schwegman, but Evans got the next Lady Bulldog on strikes to end the threat and keep New Palestine out in front 5-0.
Both teams went down in order in the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Schroeder singled and Marcum cleared the bases with a home run to center field. Pinch-hitter Liza Fiers singled, but the Lady Bulldogs turned a double play as Amy Wuestefeld caught a line drive and fired to Fawn Ryan at first to complete the double play. A ground ball back to Moorman ended the top of the seventh with New Palestine leading 7-0.
Ashley Wuestefeld started the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Marcum got the next three Lady Bulldogs on strikes to advance the Lady Dragons to the regional final.
“All in all, I am very proud of our girls,” Butt commented. “This team has had much success over the last several years, especially this group of seniors.
“I am very happy for them and it has been my pleasure to have been able to be around them for so long,” he added.
