Perfect day: Waggett goes 4-for-4 in Lady Mikes’ 7-3 win over West Greene
CARMICHAELS 鈥� Bailey Barnyak stranded eight runners and Kaitlyn Waggett went 4-for-4 in Carmichaels鈥� 7-3 victory against visiting West Greene Tuesday, April 23, in a Section 2-A game.
Barnyak struck out 10 and walked four. She stranded two runners, including at least one in scoring position, in the second, third and seventh innings.
鈥淵eah, but against her, it鈥檚 good to have base runners. I鈥檓 proud of my girls,鈥� said West Greene coach Billy Simms.鈥漌ith her out there you have to try to maximize your potential. When we have runners on it鈥檚 a double-edge sword. You want to run, but you have Waggett behind the plate.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a nice team. They鈥檙e very solid and well coached.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a scrappy team. We knew that. It was that kind of game,鈥� said Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs.
The Lady Pioneers grabbed the early lead when Marissa Tharp鈥檚 game-opening fly ball was misplayed into a three-base error. Tharp then scored on an errant throw back to the pitcher.
The Lady Mikes responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs.
Waggett started the rally with the first of her four hits. She stole second and moved to third on wild pitch. Barnyak walked and stole second to set up Carys McConnell, who ripped a two-run single into left field.
Carmichaels (8-1) added to its lead in the bottom of the second inning on Waggett鈥檚 run-scoring single.
The Lady Mikes extended their advantage to 5-0 when they batted around in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Duski Staggers walked to start the inning and moved to second on Allie Miller鈥檚 sacrifice bunt. She scored on Waggett鈥檚 single. Waggett stole second and came home on Barnyak鈥檚 single.
Barnyak scored when Payton Plavi鈥檚 infield fly ball fell just over the pitcher鈥檚 mound for an infield single.
The Lady Pioneers (5-2, 6-4) scored another unearned run in the top of the sixth inning.
Kendra Tharp walked to start the inning and moved to second on Madelyn Robert鈥檚 sacrifice bunt. Tharp stole third and came home when a pickoff attempt deflected off her back, allowing her to score standing up.
Carmichaels got the run back in the bottom of the inning after McConnell started the rally with a double and scored when Ali Jacobs鈥� fly ball was mishandled in the outfield.
Despite scoring seven runs, the Lady Mikes stranded eight runners, including the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning.
鈥淚 thought we got some things going at the plate. We haven鈥檛 been getting the timely hit. We鈥檝e been struggling getting the clutch hit,鈥� said Briggs.
West Greene had one little rally left with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Tharp walked with one out and moved to second on a ground out. She scored on Sammi Zimmerman鈥檚 single to right field.
鈥淎ll in all, I was pleased with their efforts. We鈥檙e pretty young out there with only two seniors. You always want more, but they know we gave them a game today,鈥� said Simms.
Zimmerman started for West Greene and gave way to Payton Gilbert in the bottom of the third inning. Zimmerman returned in the bottom of the fifth inning.
鈥淥ur horse is Gilbert. We have a lot of faith in Zimmerman, as well. We saw where they didn鈥檛 hit the cover off the ball against Mapletown, so we tried to just pull some glass and mirrors and we went with a rotation today knowing we were going through the lineup one time and switching at some point in time,鈥� explained Simms. 鈥淚t seemed to work. I鈥檓 happy for both pitchers. They kept us in the game today.鈥�
Briggs feels there is still a bit of a hangover from last week鈥檚 13-inning suspended game against Chartiers-Houston.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still recovering from that 13-inning game (against Chartiers-Houston),鈥� said Briggs. 鈥淲e have four new kids out there. They haven鈥檛 played much, especially in the spots they鈥檙e playing. It鈥檚 going to take awhile.
鈥淭hey need to keep growing and stepping up, and figure things out a little bit.鈥�