(PHOTO BY RICH HARDING / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Daniel Cooley
BRYAN (MAY 19, 2023) – For the first time in a decade, the Edgerton softball team has claimed a district title, with an 8-2 triumph over GMC rival Ayersville.
The two teams played in early April and Edgerton claimed that one too, but by a narrow 2-1 margin.
As Edgerton coach Marchetta Caryer watched her team celebrate, she had to wipe away a few tears.
“They are happy tears,” Caryer said. “This team has worked so hard and now it’s paying off. They’re a gritty bunch. They just keep grinding away until they get the job done.”
Edgerton pitcher Corinne Cape and the Edgerton offense were good examples of grit in the win over Ayersville.
Cape surrendered a solo home run to Kyra Waldron to start the second inning, that gave Ayersville a 2-1 lead. But Cape settled down and only allowed one hit the rest of the game.
“That home run definitely got my spirit down, but I just kept pitching and let my defense back me up”, Cape said.
“Ayersville is definitely one of the better hitting teams I faced. But my catcher (Ava Giesege) called a great game for me. I didn’t even shake off her calls once the whole game.”
“Her fast ball was working really well today, and her curve ball threw (the opponent) off when I called it,” Giesige said.
The grittiness of the Edgerton offense was demonstrated by the fact that each time Ayersville took the lead, Edgerton immediately came right back.
Ayersville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Addison Zartman’s RBI single. But Edgerton bounced right back in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 1-1 on Olivia Wallace’s RBI single.
Then, after Ayersville went in front 2-1 in the top of the third inning on Kendra Waldron’s home run, Edgerton scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.
Lola Giesige hit a single and then scored on Cape’s single and an outfield error. Cape was able to make it all the way to third base on the play and then scored on Noelle Ritter’s RBI groundout.
Then, it was the defense that came through for Edgerton. Ayersville’s Taylor Waldron led off the fourth inning with a single, but she was erased on a double play.
Ava Giesige snared a pop up on a bunt attempt and then fired to first base to double up Waldron.
In the top of the fifth inning, Ayersville’s Leah Bunke reached first base on an Edgerton error. But the next two batters groundedout to Edgerton shortstop Lola Giesige.
Edgerton then added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, to take a 4-2 lead. Ritter was hit by a pitch and then made it all the way to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Ritter then scored on a wild pitch.
In the top of the sixth inning, Ayersville’s Meling Bond reached first on a one out walk. But a fly out and a groundout, pitcher to first base, ended the inning.
Edgerton then broke the game open by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Cape’s single knocked in two runs.
Ritter then knocked in the other two runs with a triple to put Edgerton up 8-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, Mikala Schindler reached first base with a leadoff walk. But two groundouts to shortstop Lola Giesige and a pop out to the shortstop Giesige ended the game.
All told, while Cape had just four strikeouts, the defense behind her threw out seven runners on ground balls and nine others were retired on fly balls.
“Corinne is confident with her defense behind her, she does that well,” Caryer said. “And with the offense we have, eight of nine players who are batting above .300, so it can be any kid coming through on any given night.”
On this particular night, Ritter hit a triple and had three RBIs, Lola Giesige hit three singles, Cape hit two singles and had two RBIs and Wallace hit two singles and had a run batted in.
Kendra Waldron led Ayersville (15-7) with a home run and an RBI and Zartman hit a single and had an RBI.
AYERSVILLE 011 000 0 – 2 5 1
EDGERTON 012 014 x – 8 9 0
Records: Ayersville 15-7, Edgerton 19-6
WINNING PITCHER: Cape (7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: K. Waldron (6 innings, 9 hits, 8 runs, 6 earned, 7 strikeouts, 6 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Ayersville) K. Waldron – home run; (Edgerton) Giesige – 3 singles; Cape – 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Ritter – triple, 3 RBIs; Wallace – 2 singles, RBI
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com