March 28, 2024

Timberwolves break skid, beat Sidney

Southwest Valley snaps four-game losing streak with win on Senior Night

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CORNING – Southwest Valley softball picked up its third win of the season Wednesday night, beating Sidney 8-6.

The Timberwolves got on Sidney early, getting the first baserunner of the game on a Maggie Haer leadoff single in the bottom of the first.

A Kayley Myers double scored Haer, giving SWV a lead. Norah Lund crossed the plate not long after on a Kyli Aldrich ground out, and a Ryanne Mullen ground out also brought across a run in Myers.

After the first inning, an energized Southwest Valley led 3-0. Lily Kinsolver scored on a Myers passed ball to cut the deficit to 3-1 for Sidney in the second, and a heads-up defence from SWV in the third inning prevented a runner from scoring on a force out at home.

The early energy and life for Southwest Valley was something head coach Trevor Gipple asked the team to carry over from Tuesday night’s close 9-6 loss to Griswold.

“It seems like we always start slow, so we really emphasized our cage work today,” said Gipple. “We came really close to getting our third win (Tuesday), so I asked them to bring that momentum from last night into the first inning and they did. We jumped on them, ... those runs really mattered.”

The T-Wolves weren’t able to keep Sidney off the board, however, with Jolie Sheldon scoring to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

In the bottom of the third, SWV got another run to extend its lead on a throwing error at first. The error kept the inning going for Camryn Johnston, who dropped a single over shortstop to score a run.

An Anna Inman groundout and a single through the right side scored two more runs, pushing the score to 7-2.

Pitching struggles came for Southwest Valley in the fourth, with two hit-by-pitches and a walk driving in three runs with the bases loaded, making it 7-5.

A pitching change from Myers to Mullen was presented in the middle of the inning. Gipple said Myers worked until she couldn’t anymore, and did what was asked.

“(Myers) hasn’t found her groove yet. I asked her to give me three solid innings, she did that, and the fourth was a stretch because her arm’s out of shape,” said Gipple. “... Ryanne Mullen comes in [after her], she’s probably our most consistent strike thrower. ... She’s a great set up pitcher. We closed it out with Isabelle Inman, ... I told her I just want her to be a warrior and compete and she did the last two innings.”

Myers earned the win, allowing four runs and striking out two. Inman racked up the save, striking out one.

The closest Sidney came to evening the score came in the fourth inning, with a sacrifice fly making it a 7-6 game. Haer scored again in the sixth for added insurance, and Sidney went down quietly in the seventh to end the game.

Myers finished the game with three doubles, driving in two. She also scored twice.

Haer scored twice and had a single. Johnston had two singles and an RBI. Isabelle Inman and Mullen also had RBIs.

Flashes of confidence were apparent all game, with the Timberwolves playing solid defense, pitching well and attacking pitches in the batter’s box. With things clicking at the right time, and the Timberwolves buying in, Gipple feels good about where the team is going.

“It took a little longer than what I anticipated, ... I’ve got 16 kids who are finally buying in,” said Gipple. “... I think the girls were prepared this week. We’ve got four quality opponents, but we’re peaking at the right time and I think they know that. Their heads are up, they’re positive and they’re really becoming a team this past week.”

With Southwest Valley also celebrating senior night Wednesday, Gipple thanked and celebrated the four seniors – Myers, Jordyn Figgins, Allison Marshall and Anna Inman, for their quality leadership, ability to work with younger players, and ability to be the best teammates he could have hoped for in his first year with the program.

Souhtwest Valley 8, Sidney 6

R  H  E

SD  011 400  0  —  6  6  2

SW  304 001  0  —  8  15  2

SD: Olivia Larsen 2 2/3IP 3K, MaKenna Laumann 3 1/3IP 3BB and Jolie Sheldon. SW: Kayley Myers 3IP 2K, Ryanne Mullen 1IP, Isabelle Inman 2IP 1K and Jordyn Figgins. W — Myers. L – Larsen. SV – Inman. HR — None. 3B — None. 2B — SD: Fallon Sheldon. SW: Myers (3), Isabelle Inman, Mullen. RBI — SD: Danica Laumann (1), Faith Brumbaugh (1). SW: Myers (2), Norah Lund (1), Maggie Haer (1), Mullen (1), Inman (1), Camryn Johnston (1).