Schlatter shuts out Lady 'Cats

DELPHOS — Antwerp’s Bryn Schlatter was masterful Friday afternoon, throwing a 2-hitter at Jefferson and fanning 14 in a 4-0 goose-egg of the Lady Wildcats softballers at Lady Wildcat Field in Delphos.

The game was moved from Antwerp due to wet grounds, with the Lady Archers remaining the home team.

“We were going against a good pitcher today. She threw well and we didn’t get many hard-hit balls today; she got stronger as the game wore on,” Jefferson head man Brad Rostorfer noted.

Schlatter went the distance in giving up only four base-runners, adding one walk and one hit batter in her 109-pitch outing (68 for strikes).

She outdueled Jefferson ace Shauna Bowers (0-2). She gave up five hits and four runs (1 earned), while whiffing 10 and issuing no free passes in her 91 offerings (65 for strikes).

“Shauna is doing OK,” Rostorfer continued. “It’s like I said before the season; hitting has changed to the point that you need a good off-speed pitch to keep hitters honest. Antwerp got some good hits off her.”

Both pitchers needed to be quick as the skies threatened to unload before the game was completed, with thunder being heard around the field. Rains came shortly after the contest was completed.

Bowers got the first hit of the game with two outs in the first frame but was left stranded.

Jessica Bland drew a 2-out walk in the second for the Jeffcats but was also  left there.

Schlatter then retired the next 10 batters.

The Archers got an unearned run in the third. With two gone, Kelsey Bashore slugged a liner that hugged the left-field line for a double; when the ball got away from the fielder, she churned for home, with the relay hitting her in the back as she slid home for a 1-0 lead.

They got two more in the fourth. Amanda Riebersal (2-for-3, 2 runs) led off with a single to left and advanced on another double that hugged the left-field line by Toni Winslow. Kole Schlatter blooped a single to the outfield grass behind second base, scoring Riebersal and moving Winslow to third; on the sequence, Schlatter was picked off trying to advance to second by an alert Bowers but Winslow beat the relay home for a 3-0 margin.

The Red and Black had their best chance at a reply in the sixth inning. With two gone, Brooke Apple blooped a single to left center and Bowers was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved them both up but Megan Moreo grounded out to second to end the threat.

The Blue and White got their final tally in the home half. Riebersal whacked a 2-bagger that hit the base of the fence in left field; she advanced to third as the throw to the infield got away. An out hence, a wild pitch sent her across home plate.

“We have to be more aggressive at the plate. I know we’re young but we need to not be tentative,” the coach added. “We have to figure out whatever we have to to start scoring some runs, if that means bunts or trying some different things at the plate.”

Jefferson entertains Lincolnview at 5 p.m. Monday for an NWC showdown.

Note: Jefferson’s baseball game versus Lima Temple Christian set for 2 p.m. today has been moved to Wildcat Field in Delphos.