Wolverines repeat as Murray champions

CNA photo by BEN FROTSCHER Getting in: Mount AyrÕs Tess Myer awaits the throw to third base as MurrayÕs Tiffany Jackson slides in. Jackson was safe, but Mount Ayr rallied in a 4-2 semifinal win.

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CNA sports writer MURRAY — The Nodaway Valley softball team was playing inspired without coach Ray Stewart in the dugout Saturday at the 25th Murray Softball Tournament. On Friday night, Stewart was placed in the hospital with a high white blood cell count. But for Nodaway Valley, Stewart probably missed some of the best softball of the season as his Wolverines came back to win a 3-2 game over Mount Ayr to make it back-to-back championships. “The kids called him the first thing after the game in the dugout, even though it was past his bed time,” said assistant coach Carol Baudler. “But we need Ray back.” Stewart is expected to be out for a few days, but will be back on the diamond later this week for Nodaway Valley (19-10 overall). For the meantime, Nodaway Valley Activities Director Dave Huff stepped in as assistant coach while Baudler took the head coaching reigns. Neither team scored until a passed ball got Nodaway Valley’s Shiann McCann across home plate to take a 1-0 lead. The Raiderettes (19-6 overall) responded in the sixth inning when a two RBI double by Cassie Still gave Mount Ayr a 2-1 lead. Nodaway Valley responded in the bottom of the sixth inning when a wild pitch scored pinch runner Brittany Johnson and a ground out brought in Jennifer Beitz to give the Wolverines a 3-2 win. Erin Budach took the loss for Mount Ayr while Tess Myer went 2-for-3 at the plate. “We had our chances to win the game, but it’s always hard to beat a team three times in one season,” said Mount Ayr coach Josh Vanderflught. “Nodaway Valley didn’t make any mental mistakes and we did. That was the difference in the game.” Bailey Corcoran picked up the win for Nodaway Valley while Dawn McBroom was named player of the game.

Murray 6, Melcher-Dallas 3 Emily Flaherty and Ashleigh Neal went 2-for-3 while Maggie Rice was 2-for-4 with a double as Murray held on for a 6-3 victory over Melcher-Dallas in Saturday’s third place game. Neal — player of the game — picked up the win for Murray (20-10 overall) after allowing three hits and seven walks while striking out seven. The Lady Mustangs were helped by turning three inning-ending double plays in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Lady Mustangs put two runs up in the first inning before taking a 6-0 lead after four innings. Melcher-Dallas (19-9 overall) scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth inning.

Mount Ayr 4, Murray 2 A two RBI single by Lindsey Triggs in the top of the seventh inning helped Mount Ayr pull ahead for a 4-2 victory over Murray in the semifinals. Tiffany Wimer tied the game after scoring on a passed ball and after Murray got Mount Ayr to two outs, Triggs got a two RBI single came with two outs and two strikes. Triggs — player of the game — took the win in the circle for Mount Ayr after allowing two hits while striking out 11. Ashleigh Neal took the loss for Murray after allowing three hits and four walks whiles striking out two.

Nodaway Valley 11, Melcher-Dallas 4 Nodaway Valley had 13 hits in an 11-4 victory over No. 14 Class 1A Melcher-Dallas in the semifinals. Brittany Baudler went 3-for-4 at the plate while Melissa Jensen, Danica Wallace, Jennifer Hennigar and Shiann McCann each added two hits. Jensen led the Wolverines with three RBIs. Baudler picked up the win in the circle after allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six.

Central Decatur 3, Orient-Macksburg 2 Central Decatur edged Orient-Macksburg for fifth place on Saturday. Sami Stogdill was named player of the game for Central Decatur (15-12 overall). The Bulldogs dropped to 12-14 on the season.

East Union 4, Lamoni 2 East Union held on for a 4-2 victory over Lamoni in the seventh place game Saturday. Kelsey Grandfield was named player of the game for East Union (13-18 overall). Lamoni dropped to 3-20 on the season.

Orient-Macksburg 13, Lamoni 5 Orient-Macksburg advanced to the fifth place game with a 13-5 victory over Lamoni Saturday morning. Amy Waddingham was named player of the game for O-M.

Central Decatur 5, East Union 4 East Union fell by a 5-4 decision to Central Decatur in a consolation semifinal Saturday morning. Central Decatur’s Melanie Puck was named player of the game.

Murray 10, Orient-Macksburg 1 Murray’s Tiffany Jackson went 4-for-5 with an RBI while four other Lady Mustangs collected multiple hits in a 10-1 first-round victory over Orient-Macksburg Friday. Maggie Rice was 3-for-3 while player of the game Juli Jensen was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Murray. Amber Rider and Chelsey Rote went 2-for-4 while Rider added two RBIs. Ashleigh Neal picked up the win after allowing two hits and four walks while striking out six. Katie Thompson took the loss for O-M after allowing 15 hits and three walks while striking out three.

Nodaway Valley 6, East Union 3 Nodaway Valley won its tournament opener with a 6-3 victory over East Union Friday. Danica Wallace went 3-for-4 while Melissa Jensen — player of the game — went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Wolverines. Shiann McCann was 2-for-3 while Brittany Baudler added two RBIs and was the winning pitcher. Beth Reiher led East Union by going 2-for-3 while Amanda Reiher added three RBIs and a home run in the sixth inning.

Mount Ayr 10, Lamoni 0 Mount Ayr made quick work of Lamoni in the first round of the Murray Softball Tournament, beating the Demons by a 10-0 score in five innings. Lindsey Triggs picked up the win in the circle after allowing one walk and a hit-batter while striking out nine. Triggs threw a no-hitter for the five innings. Tara Adams led the Raiderettes by going 2-for-3 with four RBIs while Triggs and Tess Myer each added two hits.

Melcher-Dallas 8, Central Decatur 0 JoAnna Wells was named player of the game as Melcher-Dallas rolled to an 8-0 victory over Central Decatur Friday night in the first round. —————— Ben Frotscher can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 246 or bfrotscher@crestonnews.com