DELPHOS — Monday night at Lady Wildcat Field was an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel.

Jefferson’s Shauna Bowers and Lincolnview’s Kela Fries ruled the other’s batting order supreme in their Northwest Conference softball encounter on this brisk afternoon.

It only took one pitch: the first pitch in the top of the seventh; to give the visiting Lady Lancers a 1-0 victory.

Fries (2-1; 7 frames 1 hit, 3 walks, 10 Ks; 95 pitches, 61 strikes) took the offering from Bowers and left no doubt as it went over the fence in left.

“It was actually a good pitch; it wasn’t a mistake pitch. It was low in the strike zone, right where you want it to be,” Lady Jeffcat coach Brad Rostorfer explained. “Fries just did a great job of hitting it. Other than that, Shauna did a really nice job and the defense was solid behind her. It can be tough to play defense behind her because you don’t generally get a lot of chances; we talked about being ready to make plays before the game.”

Lincolnview (2-1, 1-0 NWC) coach Dave Evans agreed on that point about his team.

“That was the best I have seen Kela throw since last spring. I think she showed her elbow is just fine,” he began. “She got herself out of a couple of spots; she seemed to throw with confidence. Defensively, outside of a mistake or two, we did a great job. Generally, it’s the simple plays you need to make all the time to be successful in high school.”

Neither team had many chances against the other’s hurler.

Bowers (0-3; 7 frames, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 base-on-balls, 8 whiffs; 93 pitches, 66 strikes) only allowed one runner to reach second in the first six innings: Taylor Fries. She had a leadoff pop-up that fell for a hit behind first base and a 1-out steal but the Jefferson senior  eventually  fanned  the side.

Jefferson (0-4, 0-1 NWC) had a great chance in the second. With one down, Megan Moreo walked. An out later, Alexis Ricker bunted; the defense tried to nab the lead runner at second but the throw went into the outfield, putting runners on the corners. Ricker stole second. However, Fries fanned the next two on called third strikes to keep the goose-eggs going.

Bowers reached second with a leadoff single up the gut in the fourth and courtesy runner Hope Bowman reached second on a groundout by Moreo. However, two more caught-looking strikeouts finished that off.

“We took a lot of called third strikes (7). It’s time to get over that tentativeness of being young,” Rostorfer added. “We have to develop a more aggressive mindset of attacking the ball. Obviously, we were facing a pitcher on her game tonight but somehow, we have to find ways to score runs. We didn’t hit too many balls hard against her, either.”

The ’Cats had another chance in the sixth. With one down, Brooke Apple got aboard via an error and ended up at second. Bowers walked. Once more, two more batters were caught looking at strike 3 to keep it 0-0.

Fries then helped her own cause in the seventh with that solo long ball.

“You just figured it was only going to be a run or two that would win it. It’s a tough game to lose, no matter who did,” Evans added. “If you like to see good pitching, you had it tonight. It was a great pitchers’ duel.”

Courtney  Rostorfer  worked a 2-out base-on-balls in the home half but the Red and Black couldn’t get her home.

Jefferson visits non-league foe Perry Wednesday. Lincolnview hosts NWC opponent Lima Central Catholic Thursday.