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Softball Cats Drop Nailbiter to Parkway West

The Softball Wildcats lost a back and forth game to Parkway West Tuesday night by a score of 6 to 5.

For the first two innings, it was all Cats. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead from RBI ground outs by Reese Earleywine, Maddie Volding, and Brooke Lemp. Dani Mabry held the talented Parkway West offense quiet despite having runners on base. Parkway left 3 runners on base in the first two innings as Mabry was able to pitch her way out of trouble. However, in the third, Parkway began to show some life offensively as they pushed across two runs by way of a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice to begin their comeback effort. Westminster clung to their slim 3-2 lead through the 4th. This was the only inning where no runs were scored on either side.

The fifth inning is where the comeback effort came to fruition, as West took advantage of a Wildcat error to score runs via a wild pitch and a 3-2 2 out single to take the one run lead, 4-3. The Wildcats were unable to even the score in the bottom half of the inning, but in the top of the 6th, with Dani Mabry back on the mound, the Cats set Parkway down in order. The Cats headed to the dugout re-energized and determined to show they had enough to make a comeback of their own. The comeback started with Dani Mabry laying down a beautifully placed bunt single. Mabry’s hit was followed by two deep flyouts from Junior Maddie Volding and Reese Earlywine. Sophomore Katelynn Graham came up to the plate and sent another flyball into the outfield, however this ball had the legs to get over the left fielder’s head and Mabry raced home to tie the score at 4.

This was not the last of the Wildcats 6th inning heroics. Junior Deanne Pfyl stepped up to the plate with Graham on second. Pfyl sent her own strong hit between first and second base as Graham rounded third and headed in to score the go ahead run.

However the Wildcats still had another inning to defend their lead, and this is where West broke through the final time. They began the inning with a bunt single of their own. This was followed by a strikeout from Dani Mabry on the mound, shortly followed by a walk. A crucial double steal in the next at bat put the go ahead run on second base with only one out. A wild pitch brought in the tying run from third to make the score 4-4. The next batter followed the wild pitch with a bloop single over third to knock in the go ahead, and eventually game winning run. The Wildcats got out of the inning with a double play ball, but they went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game by the final score of 5-4.

“It felt great (to get the hit) and I was really happy to help my team. They were really encouraging and that played a huge role in me getting that hit,” said Katelyn Graham, who had the game tying hit for the Cats as well as a line single earlier in the game.

Both teams were able to find comeback efforts in the game, however, Parkway West did so once more than the Wildcats.

“I thought as a team we played with our heart we just didn’t get the hits we needed and didn’t make the adjustments to come back after the 7th,” said Graham of her team’s efforts in the game.

The Softball Cats next game is tomorrow at home.