Holt at DeWitt – – Softball First Game of Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 15, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

The weather outside has been frightful, and the inability to post baseball and softball games has not been delightful. Today, the weather is cooperating and your Bleacher Denizen has been ale to come to DeWitt High School to blog today’s softball doubleheader.

In today’s first game, Holt will be the visiting team and bat first.

Here are the starting lineups:

HOLT

Eeva Luoma cf

Olivia Root c

Kaelyn Rozycki 3b

Marlie Rehm 2b

Sadie Laubenthal ss

Macey Cole dp

Kara Sandberg p

Lola Knox 1b

Paeton Vandlen lf

Lynaee Hill will play right field, but will not bat.

DEWITT

Natalie Donaldson ss

Ruby Puck p

Madeline Torrence 3b

Maddie Bekkering c

Lily Utrup cf

Kiley Zatkin dp

Kennedy George 1b

Eliana Logan lf

Jamie Clark rf

Molly Brya will play second base, but not bat.

It is now time to report the events of this game through the hopefully clear lenses of an aging Bleacher Denizen whose baseball and softball careers never really took off. Everything was ruined when the Softball Powers that be refused to allow me to use my shoulder cannon to pitch. Life just isn’t fair sometimes – – –

Ruby Puck struck out Holt’s leadoff batter in the top of the first. Olivia Root beat out a grounder to the shortstop. Maddie Bekkering made a great a great throw to second base to catch the runner stealing. Ruby Puck struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Natalie Donaldson singled up the middle to open the bottom of the first inning for DeWitt. Kara Sandberg struck out the next Panther hitter. Natalie Donaldson took second base on a passed ball and advanced to third on a groundout to second base by Madeline Torrence. Kara Sandberg struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Marlie Rehm dropped a single into short right-center field to lead off the top of the second inning for Holt. She went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Sadie Laubenthal. Ruby Puck retired the next two batters on a fly to left field and a groundout to the shortstop to end the inning.

Kara Sandberg struck out DeWitt’s second inning leadoff batter. Holt first baseman Lola Knox made a fine pick to get the second Panther batter out on a grounder to third base. Kara Sandberg struck out the next Panther hitter to end the inning.

Ruby Puck retired the three Ram third inning batters on a liner to centerfield, a grounder to shortstop and a strikeout.

Kara Sandberg struck out the first two Panther hitters in the bottom of the second inning. Natalie Donaldson beat out a grounder to the shortstop for a single. Natalie Donaldson stole second base. (Natalie Donaldson is one of the fastest high school softball players I’ve ever seen. She is fun to watch.)
Kara Sandberg ignored the Bleacher Denizen’s hero worship and retired the next batter on a grounder to the pitcher’s circle to end the inning.

AFter three innings, the game remained scoreless.

Ruby Puck retired Holt’s fourth inning leadoff batter when a two strike bunt went foul. Ruby Puck retired the next batter on a strikeout and a foul popup to the shortstop.

Kara Sandberg got DeWitt’s leadoff batter in the fourth inning out on a grounder to second base. Maddie Bekkering grounded a single to left field. The next two DeWitt hitters were out on a strikeout and a foul fly to third base.

Ruby Puck retired all three Ram hitters in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to shortstop, a roller to the pitcher’s circle and another ground ball to shortstop.

Kara Sandberg retired the three Panther hitters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a roller to the pitcher, a strikeout and a squib where Catcher Olivia Root made a fine throw to get the batter at first base.

After five innings, the score was still 0-0.

Ruby Puck retired Holt’s leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning on a fly to right field. Paeton Vandlen lined a single to center field. Natalie Donaldson dove and apparently caught a low line drive off the bat of Eeva Luoma. I’m not sure whether it was ruled a catch or not, but after a couple throws to second base and to first base, it was ruled a double play and Holt had three outs.

Natalie Donaldson was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for DeWitt; she took second base on a wild pitch. After the next batter was out on a popup to the pitcher, Natalie Donaldson was able to take third base on a muffed throw. Madeline Torrence hit a squib to the pitcher; Kara Sandberg was able to throw to third base to trap the runner for the second out. Madeline Torrence made it to second base on the play. Kara Sandberg retired the next batter on a grounder to second base to end the inning.

Going into the final inning, the game remained tied at 0-0.

Olivia Root hit a fly ball down the left field line that was barely fair; she ended up with a leadoff double. She advanced to third base on a squibbed grounder to first base. Marlie Rehm lined a single to left field to drive Olivia Root home. Harper Vandlen pinch ran for Marlie Rehm. Sadie Laubenthal lined a single to center field and Harper Vandlen advanced to second base.

Harper Vandlen took third base and Sadie Laubenthal second base on a passed ball. With runners on second base and third base with one out, Ruby Puck got a big strikeout for out number two. Ruby Puck struck out the next Holt batter to end the inning.

Holt scored one run in the top of the seventh inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Lily Utrup led off the bottom of the seventh inning for DeWitt by sharply grounding a single to center field. Kara Sandberg retired the next two Panther batters on a strikeout and a fly to right field. Eliana Logan walked and Lily Utrup advanced to second base. Kara Sandberg retired the next batter on a bunt to first base to end the game.

Holt won the first game of this doubleheader by a 1-0 score.

Natalie Donaldson had two singles for DeWitt. Maddie Bekkering and Lily Utrup each had one single.

Ruby Puck pitched a complete game for the Panthers and gave up only one run.

Olivia Root had a single and a double for Holt. Marlie Rehm had two singles and one RBI. Sadie Laubenthal and Paeton Vandlen each had one single.

Kyra Sandberg pitched a complete game shutout for the Rams.

Here is the second game of today’s doubleheader. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2024/04/16/holt-at-dewitt-softball-second-game-of-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-april-15-2024-by-chuck-krafft/