(Griswold, IA) — The Griswold softball team looks dominant to start the season — five games and five convincing victories. On Wednesday night it was the Tigers closest game of the year and it only went 4 1/2 innings in a 8-0 win over Nodaway Valley.
Ailey Wahlert threw a two hit shutout for the Tigers and went 3-3 at the plate with two doubles, 1 run and 3 RBI. In the circle she mixed her pitches using a rise ball and a curve to baffle a Wolverine team that had hit .387 in their first two games.
At the plate, Griswold threatened in the bottom of the first inning with 2 on and 1 out but Nod Valley starter Ella Boswell got a fly out and a strike out to get out of the threat. In the bottom of the 2nd, Keely Kinney sent one just over the wall in left for a solo home run to make it 1-0 Tigers. Joanna Reynolds followed with a base hit and Dapha Wahlert walked. Carsyn Adams then hit a fly ball to right center and the Wolverine outfielders collided and the ball went of the mitt of Mattison Thompson for an error to score two runs. Marissa Askeland got a sac fly to plate another run and after a base hit from Abby Gohlinghorst, Wahlert got a RBI double as Griswold scored 5 times.
They added three more in the bottom of the 4th, once again sending 9 batters to the plate. Wahlert had the big hit a 2 run double and Kinney added a RBI single.
Nodaway Valley, meanwhile, only had three baserunners all night long. Wahlert retired the first 6 batters but Lea Stonebraker got a leadoff single in the third. After Carter Osbourne struck out Chloe Rardin singled but Wahlert struck out the top of the line up Thompson and Taylor Laughery to strike out the side. She hit Emma Boswell with a pitch in the 4th inning but that is all Wahlert allowed, striking out 8 and walking none.
Griswold made a good case to enter the 2A rankings led by Wahlert, Abby Gohlinghorst was 2-3 with 2 runs, Marissa Askeland was 2-2 with a double, RBI, and run scored. Keely Kinney was 2-3 with a HR, 2 RBI and a run scored.
Line Totals
Nodaway Valley (2-1) 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB
Griswold (5-0) 8 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors, 7 LOB
Wahlert (W) 5-0
Boswell (L) 2-1
Time of Game: 1:14
