Comets Third Inning Bites Tigers In 14-4 Loss

Tipton’s Ashley Mente stands in and waits for a pitch she can drive during a recent softball game. The Tigers lost two tough games against RVC opponents last week. Photo by Ryan Stonebraker. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

BELLEVUE — The Tipton Softball team had everything going for itself in their River Valley Conference cross-division game last Thursday at Bellevue.  The Tigers had an early lead and were in a tie ball game in the third inning at Bellevue.  However, that is when the Comets exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the third inning, breaking a 3-3 tie on their way to a 14-4 victory.

Tipton trailed 2-0 after one inning, but got things going in the top of the second.  Kamryn Chapman led off the inning with a walk and promptly stole second base.  Kelsi Hein reached on a one-out error to put runners at the corners.  Chapman stole home for the Tigers first run, putting the score at 2-1.  On the play, Hein stole second.  Grace Nichols drew a walk to put two Tigers on base and both advanced on a passed ball to second and third.  Hailey Stewart bunted, scoring Hein for a RBI and tying the score at 2-2 on the play.  Nichols later scored on an error to give Tipton a 3-2 lead.

Bellevue tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the second.  It was the third inning that gave Tipton problems.  The Comets sent 15 batters to the plate in the inning and scored 11 runs to take a 14-3 lead.

Tipton pushed a run across the plate in the top of the fourth inning to get the score at 14-4.  Morgan Wendel walked to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice by Hein.  Nichols reached on an error allowing Wendel to score.  The Tigers did not sore in the top of the fifth, ending the game by the 10-run mercy rule.

Morgan Wendel took the loss after starting the game.  The Tigers had three hits in the ball game.  

Rebels Beat Tigers At Home With Early Runs

TIPTON — The Northeast Goose Lake Rebels pounced on the Tiger softball team early and often and never let the Tigers get into the RVC cross-division game in a 19-3 three-inning victory last week.

The Rebels took the wind out of the Tigers sails with a 7-run top of the first and four-run, and added four runs in the second for an 11-0 lead.  Tipton responded though.  Tipton fought, and clawed out three runs in the bottom of the second to set the score of the game to 11-3.  The Rebels put the game away with an 8-run top of the third to extend their lead to 19-3.

Tipton had two hits in the game, singles by sophomores Erica Chapman and Bryanna Simmermaker.  Two Tigers reached base via walks and as a team Tipton stole five bases.  Britney Ford swiped two bases as a courtesy runner and Kamryn Chapman, Hailey Stewart and Simmermaker each had one stolen base.  Morgan Wendel and Hailey Stewart each reached base via a walk.

Wendel was the losing pitcher after pitching all three innings.  She gave up 12 hits, struck out one and walked one.