Softball: North's Wailand strikes out 17 in victory

Font Size:

By Ben Brewster | Saturday, July 5, 2008 11:22 PM CDT | () comments

Davenport Central’s Mary VanCamp slides under North shortstop Carissa Coopman during Saturday’s fifth inning. North beat Central 5-2. Buy this Photo

Davenport North beat Davenport Central 5-2 to advance to the Class 4A regional semifinals.

Wildcats pitcher Ashley Wailand dominated the Lady Blue Devils early, striking out the first nine batters of the game.

“She had good movement and good location,” North coach Jeff Manders said.

Wailand struck out 17 batters and pitched all seven innings to get the win for North.

“I had my dropball working really well, and my curve,” Wailand said.

She did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Central shortstop Kelsey Lovaas singled to drive in Mindy Moses, who had drawn a leadoff walk.

North jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning with patient at-bats and aggressive baserunning off Central starting pitcher Melissa Rink.

Sam Colter and Tammy Wilson drew one-out walks, and Nicole Woodson followed with a single.

After Jaden Swain lined out, Wailand hit a sharp single to score Colter and

Wilson.

Wailand advanced to second base to draw a throw from the catcher, which allowed Woodson to score.

Catcher Paige Almasi was then hit by a pitch and advanced to second using the exact same play.

Almasi was thrown out at second, but not after pinch runner Abrea Ash scored to make the score 4-0.

“We haven’t been too good at those (plays), but today we executed,” Manders said. “The first inning broke the game open and got everyone relaxed.”

Central made it interesting in the seventh, putting together their only good scoring opportunity against Wailand, when Mindy Moses and Rink drew walks to start the inning.

They advanced to second and third on two wild pitches, and Moses scored on a groundout to first base by Mary Betsworth.

With Rink on third and one out, Lovaas and Emily Rubberg struck out to give North the 5-2 victory.

North will play next at Davenport West on Monday at 7 p.m.

Bettendorf 13, Clinton 1

Bettendorf’s game was called in the third inning after rolling over Clinton for 13 runs.

The Bulldogs batted around in the second and third innings, getting three hits each from Morgan Lintz and Kelsey Rose.

Lintz and Rose also took care of Clinton on the mound. Lintz started and pitched two innings for the win, and Rose pitched the third inning to finish it.

Bettendorf moves on to play North Scott on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at North Scott Community College.