Wawasee Sports Wrap – April 24
Wawasee Earns Key Softball Win
Wawasee picked up a big win in the early rounds of the Northern Lakes Conference softball season with a 5-2 win against visiting NorthWood Friday evening.
Paige Hlutke continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs to lead the Lady Warriors. Hlutke’s RBI double in the fifth broke a 2-2 tie and started a three-run frame for Wawasee. In Wawasee’s three NLC games this season, Hlutke is 9-for-11 with eight RBIs, and on the season is hitting .567 with 15 RBIs.
Danielle Gunkel slugged her second homer of the season in the third inning and Cristina DeLaFuente added two hits, a run and a stolen base for the Lady Warriors.
NorthWood tied the game in the fifth on a two-run double from Lexi Bergman. NorthWood only had four hits in the game, but two came in the fifth on the double and a single from Arika Flickinger, who followed Summer Stillson leading off the inning after being hit by a pitch.
Amber Lemberg earned the win in relief, tossing three innings and giving up just the two earned runs. Meghan Fretz got the no decision, working four innings of no-hit, three-walk ball, striking out three.
Taylor Troxel took the loss for NorthWood, giving up the three runs in the fifth in relief of starter Olivia Peyla, who scattered four hits and two earned runs over three innings.
Wawasee moves to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the NLC while NorthWood drops to 5-4 and 0-2. The Lady Warriors had their home invitational cancelled Saturday so will return Monday for another huge NLC game at Northridge. NorthWood will attempt to entertain Elkhart Central Saturday afternoon.
Panthers Pounce On Warriors
NorthWood struck early and often Friday night, pounding Wawasee 12-4 in Nappanee.
The Panthers scored three runs in the first and pulled into command with a four-run fourth to take a 9-3 lead into the the fifth.
Gage Reinhard reached base three times, two via hits including a double to lead Wawasee. Reinhard also scored a run. Chase Rookstool also had two hits and drove in two runs. Brett Carson added a solid single for the Warriors, which drop to 6-3 overall and 1-2 in the NLC.
Harrison Shortill stuck out all six innings on the hill for Wawasee, giving up 14 hits and walking four in the effort.
NorthWood move to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the NLC with the win. Panther statistics were not provided.
Wawasee’s home invitational was cancelled, so the Warriors will look to a home date Monday against Northridge. NorthWood will look to stay hot at home in hosting Warsaw Monday evening.
In the JV contest, NorthWood claimed a 7-5 victory. Rylan Kuhn led Wawasee with a single and double while teammate Jamie Slabaugh added a pair of singles.
Wawasee (2-3) will play Northridge Monday.