Wauzeka-Steuben Softball wins 2024 Ridge & Valley Conference Championship

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Hornets catcher Emma Wall tries to catch a Seneca base runner napping by throwing to first base. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)

Natalie Wright gets ready to take a lead off of first base behind the Royals’ Kylie Chambers. Wauzeka-Steuben defeated Seneca 11-1 to clinch their first conference title since 2019. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)

Junior Kylie Manning gets ready to take a big swing. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)

The Hornets' Liz Wright follows through on her swing during the Hornets win over the Royals. (Derick Kelly/Courier Press)

By Derick Kelly

 

Coming off their first two losses of the season and receiving an unexpected fifth seed in their half sectional grouping, the Wauzeka-Steuben Hornets softball program entered last week with plenty of motivation. 

Awaiting them last Monday was a battle at Ithaca for control of the Ridge & Valley Conference Championship. The Bulldogs entered the contest only one loss behind the Hornets in the race for the conference title.

Jumping out to a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings, the Hornets were on their way to keeping their place at the top of the conference. Ithaca had different plans, however, as they managed to push four runs across to take a 4-3 lead after three innings. The score remains 4-3 until the top of the sixth when the Hornets scored a run to tie the game 4-4.

After holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the Hornets scored five runs, in large part to a grand slam from Cameron Hurda, to take a 9-4 lead which would end up being the final score.

Leading the Hornets offensive attack were Kylie Manning (3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs), Emma Wall (2-for-3 with a double, a walk and three runs scored), Ally Wall (2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI) and Hurda (2-for-4 with a grand slam and four RBIs).

Hurda also earned the win on the mound in relief of Ally Wall, thanks to four scoreless, hitless and walkless innings with seven strikeouts.

The Hornets returned home two nights later to host Seneca in a game rescheduled from the previous week. The Hornets would score at least one run in every inning including five in the fourth as Hornets defeated the Royals 11-1 in six innings.

With the win, the Hornets clinched at least a share of the Ridge & Valley Conference Championship. The Hornets offense was lead by Brianna Ray (3-for-3 with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBIs), Hurda (3-for-4 with two runs scored), Ally Wall (2-for-3 with a double, one run scored and one RBI), Isabella Bunders (2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs) and Natalie Wright (2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI).

Hurda got the win after pitching all six innings for the Hornets (one run allowed on two hits and four walks while striking out nine).

The Hornets welcomed  the Kickapoo Panthers to Wauzeka last Friday with a chance to win the conference championship outright with a win. A five run first inning kicked off a 13-1 win in five innings for the Hornets and sealed the conference title outright. 

Collecting multiple hits for the Hornets were Morgan Berger (3-for-3 with two runs scored), Ally Wall (3-for-4 with a double, home run, three runs scored and two RBIs), Emma Wall (2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and one RBI), Bunders (2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI) and Hurda (2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBIs). Adding doubles for the Hornets were Manning and Ray.

Ally Wall pitched all five innings (one run allowed on three hits and six walks while striking out six) for the win.

The Hornets ended a busy week (that featured four games in five days) on Saturday by hosting Monticello/New Glarus for a non-conference contest. The Hornets scored one run in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead before holding on for the 4- 1 win. Ray (2-for-3 with one run and one RBI) and Ally Wall (2-for-3 with one run scored) each collected multiple hits.

Hurda (one run allowed on six hits and two walks while striking out five) pitched the entire game to earn the win.

Wauzeka-Steuben improved to 16-2 overall and 11-0 in the Ridge & Valley Conference heading into Monday’s regular season finale at Seneca. The Hornets will begin postseason play on Tuesday, May 21 by traveling to fourth seed Juda/Albany for the regional semifinal round with the winner moving on to the regional final on Thursday, May 23.

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