Wawasee Softball: Haines Highlights Heroic Night [VIDEO]
SYRACUSE – On a night that started with hope for the future, Wawasee delivered in its other quest, as well.
Wawasee and Goshen came together in uniformity, both in its jersey tops and spirit for a bigger cause Friday night in helping support the Strike Out Cancer Together event, then played an epic Northern Lakes Conference softball thriller. Hannah Haines had the big hit, a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to send Wawasee to its sixth straight conference win in a 4-3 final.
Kayla White reached on an infield single in the ninth and reached second on Madie Wilson’s single. Haines then finished the job with a rope into right that allowed White to come home with the game winner.
Haines and Leah deSomer got Wawasee on the board in the first inning with back-to-back RBI doubles, and that lead held up until the fifth, when Haines scored on a passed ball to give Wawasee a 3-0 lead.
Goshen came all the way back, chipping off two runs on a single by Caitlyn Doyle, then tying the game in the seventh on a Alexia Nettrouer single.
Amber Lemberg got the win for Wawasee with nine solid innings, giving up just four hits while walking five and striking out six. Kate Atkinson took the loss for the RedHawks, giving up 12 hits and two walks while fanning a pair.
The matchup saw the top two teams in the conference face off, Wawasee (13-2 overall) now is 6-0 to start the NLC for the first time in school history while Goshen drops to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
Before the game Sonia Hunziker, the mother of Warrior sophomore utility Marissa Hunziker, was honored in her battle with cancer by throwing out the first pitch and the team sold shirts and cookies to aid in its cancer fund donations. Goshen also participated by wearing the matching jerseys and socks as Wawasee, and even used pink softballs during warmups.
In the JV contest, which featured both teams also wearing matching uniforms and regalia, Wawasee beat Goshen 11-1. Beth Flannery had a great game, driving in three runs and getting the victory in the circle as the winning pitcher.