By David Campbell
For the Daily Journal
Center Grove pushed seven runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth to pull away for a 12-2 softball win against Greenwood under less than ideal conditions at home Friday.
Much of the game was played in a cold rain, which eventually turned to sleet and later snow by the final innings. The play on the field reflected the conditions, with a total of nine walks, a hit batter and three errors over the final two innings.
In the end, it was the third-ranked Trojans that survived the weather best to remain unbeaten on the season.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“I was very pleased with the way they handled themselves in what was undoubtedly the worst conditions of the year,” Center Grove coach Russ Milligan said. “I’m proud of them and (Greenwood coach Greg Norwood) should be proud of his girls. They gutted it out when it was pretty dang hard to hold onto the ball.”
Despite the conditions, the game was well-played and close most of the way.
Greenwood starter Karlee Denham kept the powerful Center Grove offense at bay through five innings, running into trouble only in the third when the weather began to take a turn.
The Trojans (6-0) got a leadoff triple by Piper Belden and a single from Clara Andersen to score their first run. After they loaded the bases, Lexi Fair was hit by a pitch, Kaci Finchum hit a sacrifice fly and Addison Osborn drew a walk to bring in three more runs for a 4-0 lead.
Center Grove added a run in the fourth when Jordyn Rudd doubled and scored on an Abby Herbst single.
Greenwood (0-4) was limited to just two hits through five innings by Center Grove pitcher Lauren Wackerly but Milligan opted to go to Rudd in the sixth and the Woodmen took advantage. Unable to get warm and get a good grip on the ball, Rudd walked four batters and the Trojans committed an error to allow two runs to cross the plate and close the gap to 5-2.
But the Trojans got those runs back and more in the bottom half, with Rudd ending the game on a bases-loaded double to bring on the mercy rule.
Despite the final score, Norwood was pleased with his team’s effort.
“The weather was definitely a factor for us, and we just don’t have much pitching, so when we go away from Karlee, we start to struggle,” Norwood said. “She did really well. We made three errors, and you take those errors and the weather away, I think we could have made it a much better game.”
Wackerly struck out two and walked one while allowing two hits in five scoreless innings in the circle to get the win. Denham allowed nine runs — eight earned — on 12 hits with a strikeout and five walks in the loss.
Rudd went 4 for 5 with a triple, three doubles and three RBIs in an impressive performance at the plate for the Trojans. Belden added a triple and a single.
