Everyone hits, everyone runs and everyone scores applied to Orion’s 12-1 win over Galva in semifinals of the regional softball tournament on Tuesday, May 18, in Oneida.
The Wildcats actually scored the game’s first run. Their leadoff hitter, Erika Edmonds, reached on an error and scored on another error.
A third error, followed by a base on balls, allowed Galva to load the bases, but Orion pitcher Kelly Hutton got the seventh batter of the frame to ground out to shortstop Megan Blumenshein.
After that, the Charger defense settled down. The girls committed only two more errors, both with two outs. Both times Hutton whiffed the next batter to strand the base runner.
Hutton held the Wildcats hitless. The run charged to her was unearned. She picked up the win for five innings in which she gave up only one walk while striking out nine.
Behind 1-0 in the first, Orion easily took the lead.
Abby Taets led off with a single, and Megan Blumenshein reached on an error.
Two outs later, Ashlee Amador singled into left field to bring both runners home.
With two outs in the second frame, Grace Leuck reached on the first baseman’s error. She stole second and went to third on a passed ball.
Abby Taets walked and stole second.
Blumenshein singled into right field to score Leuck and Taets.
In the third, Hillary Taets led off with a single into left. Clean-up hitter Jena Malmen drove a double deep into left center.
With runners in scoring position, Amador punched a sacrifice fly into center field. Hillary Taets was able to score for a 5-1 lead.
The Wildcats replaced starting pitcher Rachel Jeffries with Taylor Williams.
Hutton reached on the shortstop’s error, which allowed Malmen to cross the plate.
In the Charger half of the fourth, Leuck led off with a double into right center.
One out later, Blumenshein delivered a shot up the middle.
With runners on the corner, Hillary Taets homered to make the score 9-1 in favor of the Chargers.
Orion wasn’t done yet. Malmen walked and went to second on a wild pitch.
Amador singled into left, moving Malmen to third. Kylee Peterson went in to run for Amador. After Peterson stole second, Hutton doubled in both runners on a ball hit to the center field fence.
Kaila Lange entered the game to run for Hutton. She scored on a wild pitch.
Orion blasted 10 hits to none for Galva. The total included three extra-base hits, Hillary Taets’ home run and Malmen’s and Hutton’s doubles.
Blumenshein, Hillary Taets and Amador each had two hits, while Abby Taets, Malmen, Hutton and Leuck had one apiece.
Galva pitchers issued four walks and allowed nine hits while striking out only two.
Stealing bases were Blumenshein, two, and Abby Taets, Amador and Leuck, one each.
Orion committed five errors and Galva, four.
