By: Joe Blystone
DELTA – For 24 months Delta has experienced the agony of defeat rather than the thrill of victory, including losing their first 17 games this season.
That long line of futility ended with a 3-2 triumph over Stryker to give the Panthers their first victory of not only this season, but in the last two years.
Ironically the last Delta win was over Stryker near the end of the 2021 season.
“We have been having small victories the entire season, but we haven’t put them all together and today we finally did,” expressed Delta coach Kelsey Gillen.
“The bench and everyone was in this game and focused and that definitely helped us.”
Delta took the lead right away in the first. Kate Friess led off with a sharp single, raced to third on a throwing error on Mackenzie Clapp’s bouncer to the mound, then scored when Jaclyn Kohlhofer flied out to left.
“We came out that first inning right from the get-go getting some hits and runners on base and got one in,” said Gillen.
Clapp made that lead stand up, battling through back-to-back two out singles off the bats of Laura Leupp and Adysen Andres in the second by getting an inning ending bounce out to keep Stryker scoreless until two outs in the third.
That’s when Sage Woolace worked a walk, then used her speed to create a game-tying run.
Woolace stole second and when Friess’ return throw to the mound got away, the fleet Stryker senior took third.
Catcher Olivia Tipton caught Woolace off the bag with a pickoff move but when the throw was dropped, Woolace scored standing up to knot the game at 1-1.
However, Delta came back in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good. Clapp led off with a base hit and one out later Kohlhofer rapped a line drive single to left.
A force play put runners on first and third, and a catchers’ indifference made it second and third for designated player Mya Martinez.
The freshman dropped the barrel on Taylore Rethmel’s sinker and rammed a two-run single through the middle to make it 3-1.
“When I told her she was DP today I told her that she needed to have the confidence that I have in her,” Gillen said of her freshman designated player.
“She is a hitter; she is going to be one to watch. She loves softball and is willing to put in the work.”
Rethmel allowed just one more base runner the rest of the way, retiring the last eight Delta hitters.
However, Clapp was nearly as effective with the help of centerfielder Jasey Spiess.
In the Stryker fifth with two on and one down, Spiess made a skidding catch of Emma Fulk’s liner, then doubled a Stryker runner off at second to end the inning.
Styker closed the gap to a run in the sixth, again thanks to Woolace’s speed.
After the Stryker shortstop walked, she again stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came home on Rethmel’s bunt single.
Clapp then recovered to get two infield pops to end the inning.
Spiess then ended the game an inning later, adding to her ESPN highlight reel with yet another sliding catch of Brooke Collins’ shot toward center.
“Jasey Spiess made a couple of great plays out there. Especially the one in the fifth with runners on base where we got a double play rather than having a couple runs score,” Gillen said elatedly.
Clapp gave up three hits and walked three to get the victory. She also fanned six Stryker batters.
“She hit her spots today,” Gillen stated of Clapp. “You could tell when she got a little tired, but she battled through it and came back to hold us in this one.”
STRYKER 001 001 0 – 2 3 3
DELTA 102 000 x – 3 5 3
Records: Stryker 6-9, Delta 1-17
WINNING PITCHER: Clapp (7 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 6 strikeouts, 3 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: Rethmel (6 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Stryker) – 3 singles; (Delta) Tipton – double; Martinez – single, 2 RBIs
Joe can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com