Regionals in Dale

The Wayne Lady Bulldogs split their games with Stratford last week in the District tournament, forcing the if-game. Wayne picked up a 9-8 win over the other Bulldogs in their third game to move on to Regionals.

“The hardest part of slow-pitch, for me, is watching the other team put up runs and not rolling over and then going out on offense and matching them.

“These girls never rolled over. They kept matching them and they refused to not let it be a close game,” head coach Nikki Herrin said.

Wayne is in the Dale Regionals along with Colbert and Apache. They are slated to play Dale at 1 p.m. today (Thursday), weather permitting. Two teams from each Regional will advance.

Stratford

Through three games against the Stratford Bulldogs, junior Jordynn Debaets’ bat was sizzling. She had four home runs in three games and nine total ribbies.

“Jordynn was steady for us at the plate. Her home run in the sixth inning of game three tied us up at 8-8 with Stratford,” Herrin said.

It was Addison Keeler, with a hit to the right side that would score Faith Brazell in walk-off fashion. Wayne won 9-8.

“This was a team effort. The girls kept the energy in the dugout, which is not always easy to do.”

Wayne finished that game with 16 hits. Brazell led the team with four while Emily Woody and Ava Stottlemyre each had three.

Stottlemyre was also solid in the circle for Wayne throughout the District tournament.

“Ava did wonderful. She’s a freshman and she came in and pitched great. She’s had some experience in recent games, but she pitched all four games and I’m proud of her,” Herrin said.

In their first game with Stratford, Wayne picked up a 7-5 win. They had 14 hits, including a home run from Debaets in the fourth inning.

The second game was an 11-9 loss, despite a three run come back in the seventh inning.

Wayne finished with 14 hits, including two longballs from Debaets. Alyssa Hobson, Allison Ryan and Stottlemyre had two hits apiece in that loss.

Mangum

Wayne kicked off the District tournament with an 11-9 win over Mangum.

They had 18 hits, led by Ryan and Brazell with three each. Hobson, Debaets and Kaylee Madden had two apiece.

The game was tied up a 9-9 after six innings and neither team would score again until the eighth.

Wayne put up two more runs in the top of the eighth and held Mangum scoreless to get the win and send them on to face Stratford.