In
Huron/Perth Fastball action, the Mite Girls hosted the league leading Exeter #2
squad at Teddy’s Field on Wednesday.
Getting her first start of the year, pitcher Kaitlyn DeBoer showed a few nerves at the start of the inning before settling down and striking out three including the third out with the bases loaded. Down by three in the bottom of the first, the St Marys bats were silenced as three strike outs in the inning stranded DeBoer on third after she drew a walk and stole second and third.
In the top of the second, DeBoer struck out two, but a couple base-on balls and a hard single drove in two more runs allowing Exeter to take a 5 – 0 lead. St Marys was looking to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning after Angelina Vanderwal crushed a single and quickly stole second and then third. Erin Green stepped to the plate and battled to a full count before drawing the walk. Green stole second leaving St Marys with two in scoring position but the Exeter pitcher struck out the next two batters to end the inning with the Mites still down 5 – 0.
Ava Ansley took the mound in the top of third, but the Exeter batters continued their patience at the plate taking four walks. Ansley gave up one single and struck out three as Exeter opened 7 – 0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Natalie Johnston led off with hard hit double up the left field line and then stole third on the next pitch. A quick strike out brought Ansley to the plate who drove an RBI single up the middle putting St Marys on the board down 7 – 1. Next up, DeBoer stepped into the batter’s box and battled the Exeter pitcher drawing a walk. Unfortunately, as St Marys was looking for more offence, DeBoer was thrown out at second on an attempted steal to end the inning.
Ansley made quick work in the fourth as she struck out two and had a ground out to first to end another possible threat as Exeter had two runners in scoring position after an early walk and hit batter. St Marys looking at best tie the game in the final at bat, saw Jillian Sterkenburg sacrifice herself and take first after being hit by a pitch. Sterkenburg then stole second, then third before coming home on a Vanderwal RBI single making it 7 – 2. With Green at the plate, Vanderwal stole second and third while Green drew a walk. The next St Marys batter struck out allowing Rebecca Sleeper to draw a walk keeping the hope alive. Johnston stepped in and lined her second single of the game bringing home Vanderwal for the third St Marys run cutting the lead to 7 – 3. However, that was all the offense there would be, as St Marys took the loss.
The Mites participate in the Mitchell tournament this weekend and then host the Mitchell #1 squad on Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 @ Teddy’s.