Reeths-Puffer had its most competitive day of softball so far this
season Tuesday, but the Rockets' unbeaten record remained intact thanks
to 2-0 and 3-2 victories over Caledonia in O-K Green Conference play.
Lainey
McDaniel had an outstanding game one in the circle, pitching a two-hit
shutout with nine strikeouts. Kenzie Jacobs doubled in McDaniel in the
fourth inning to open the scoring, and McDaniel drove in a run with a
sacrifice fly in the fifth after Carlie Guikema led off the inning with a
double off the fence.
Game two was a thriller, as the Rockets
(11-0, 4-0 O-K Green) had to hold off a late rally to get the win. In
the seventh inning, Caledonia's Lauren Parker had a two-out double to
put the Scots into position to tie the score, but she was thrown out
trying to steal third base, ending the game.
Guikema had a
two-run single for the Rockets, and Lorelei Herrygers drove in a run on a
single. McDaniel started the game and pitched five innings, allowing an
unearned run on three hits with seven strikeouts, before Makayla Jewett
came on for a two-inning save. McDaniel also got two hits, as did Tessa
Ross.
"It was a great night of playing tight softball against a good team," Rockets' coach Sarah Bayle said. "We
weren't perfect tonight, but we did a lot of things really well. We made
things happen out of nothing on offense, while also playing tight on
defense and I'm very proud of the girls for that."
