DeWitt at Fowler – – Softball – – Second Game of Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 9, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is covering the softball doubleheader at Fowler, where the Eagles are hosting the Panthers from DeWitt. Here is a play by play of the opening game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/05/10/dewitt-at-fowler-softball-first-game-of-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-may-9-2025-by-chuck-krafft/

While the first game counted in tomorrow’s big softball tournament that DeWitt will be hosting, this will be like any other non-conference softball game. Of course, even though we are in Fowler, the DeWitt Panthers will be the “home team” and bat last. The Bleacher Denizen’s mind, of course, is boggling, but all the spectators, players, umpires and coaches are going along with this concept, so I suppose I should, too.

Here are the starting lineups. Fowler will bat first in this game.

FOWLER

Selena Stump rf

Saige Miller ss

Natalie Smith lf

Addison Spicer 3b

Paisley Hansen 1b

Kerigan Pung 2b

Molly Schlak dp

Jaydn Feldpausch c

Chloe Feldpausch cf

Neelah O’Rourke will pitch, but will not bat.

DEWITT

Sydney Ferguson rf

Ruby Puck ss

Madeline Torrence 3b

Kiley Zatkin dp

Emily Agnew c

Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak p

Molly Brya 2b

Kennedy Goerge 1b

Jamie Cook cf

Caroline Chumbley will play left field, but will not bat.

In the top of the first inning, Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak retired the three Fowler hitters on a grounder to the shortstop, a strikeout and another grounder to the shortstop.

Sydney Ferguson, Ruby Puck and Madeline Torrence each walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for DeWitt. Kiley Zatkin blasted a double to the left field fience to drive in Sydney Ferguson, Ruby Puck and Madeline Torrence. Kiley Zatkin went to third base on a groundout to second base by Emily Agnew. Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak singled to right field to drive Kiley Zatkin home.

Ava Kujansuu entered the game as a courtesy runner for Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak and advanced to second base when Molly Brya was safe at first base on an error. Ava Kujansuu was out at third base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop; Kennedy Goerge was safe at first base and Molly Brya advanced to second base.

Molly Brya and Kennedy Goerge both scored when Jamie Cook was safe at third base on an error. Sydney Ferguson lined a single to center field to drive Jamie Cook home. DeWitt made its third out of the inning on a grounder to third base.

DeWitt scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 7-0 lead.

Addison Spicer lined a single to left field to lead off the top of the second inning for Fowler. She took second base on a groundout to the pitcher by Paisley Hansen. Kerigan Pung walked. Addison Spicer moved up to third base and Kerigan Pung second base on a wild pitch. The runners held as the next batter grounded out to the shortstop. Fowler made its final out of the inning on a fly to center field.

DeWitt’s first two hitters in the bottom of the second inning were out on flies to left field and center field. Fowler Shortstop Saige Miller left the game briefly to deal with a bloody nose. Fowler Eagles flew all over the field as Addison Spicer moved to shortstop, Kerigan Pung to third base, Selena Stump to second base Molly Schlak went to right field.

Emily Agnew singled to right field. Mayah Walker entered the game as a courtesy runner for Emily Agnew. DeWitt made its final out of the inning on a grounder to the temporary shortstop, Addison Spicer.

Chloe Feldpausch lined a single to center field to lead off the top of the third inning for Fowler. Selena Stump was safe at second base on an error. DeWitt Center Fielder Jamie Cook fired the ball to Shortstop Ruby Puck, who made a great relay to throw out the speedy Chloe Feldpausch as she tried to score on the play. Selena Stump took third base on the throw home.

Saige Miller (who obviously has stopped her nosebleed) walked and stole second base. Natalie Smith walked to load the bases. DeWitt Shortstop Ruby Puck made a great running catch to steal a single from Addison Spicer. Paisley Hansen singled to left field to drive in Selena Stump and Saige Miller while Natalie Smith advanced to second base. Fowler made its third out of the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop.

Fowler scored two runs in the top of the third inning to pare the DeWitt lead to 7-2.

Saige Miller went back in to play shortstop and the remaining Eagles fluttered back to their original positions.

Neelah O’Rourke retired the three DeWitt batters in the bottom of the third inning on a grounder to the shortstop, a strikeout and a grounder to the pitcher.

Molly Schlak was safe at first base on an error to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Fowler. She stole second base and moved to third base when Jaydn Feldpausch was thrown out at first base when the third strike of her strikeout was not caught and the catcher had to throw to first base to get the out. . Chloe Feldpausch somehow beat out a single on a bouncer to the pitcher. (This girl can FLY. She is amazing in center field.) Molly Schlak held at third base.

Selena Stump hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Molly Schlak. Chloe Feldpausch nearly broke the sound barrier as she streaked all the way to third base when DeWitt threw home to try to get Molly Schlak out. Saige Miller singled to left field to drive Chloe Feldpausch home. Natalie Smith singled and Saige Miller went to second base. Addison Spicer doubled to deep center field to drive Saige Miller and Natalie Smith home. Fowler made its final out of the inning on a soft line drive to second base.

Fowler scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to chop the DeWitt lead to 7-6.

Sydney Ferguson beat out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for DeWitt. Ruby Puck was safe at first base and Sydney Ferguson out at second base on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Neelah O’Rourke retired the next two Panther batters on a line drive to the shortstop and a line drive to third base to end the inning.

DeWitt Pitcher Kaydence Ballinger-Szostok retired the three Fowler hitters in the top of the fifth inning on two grounders to third base and a grounder to second base where Molly Brya made a fine athletic pickup and Kennedy Goerge made a great stretch at first base to secure the out.

Neelah O’Rourke retired the DeWitt leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to the shortstop. Kaydence Ballinger Szostak walked. Ava Kujansuu entered the base as a courtesy runner for Kaydence Ballinger Szostak and went to second base when Molly Brya singled. Ava Kujansuu went to third base and Molly Brya to second base on a groundout to third base by Kennedy Goerge.

Ava Kujansuu scored and Molly Brya took third base on a wild pitch. Molly Brya scored on a passed ball. DeWitt made its third out on a grounder to first base. Fowler Second Baseman Kerigan Pung made an alert play to make sure first base was covered so Fowler could get the out.

DeWitt scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 9-6.

Chloe Feldpausch zipped to first base to beat out an infield single to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Fowler. She went to second base when Selena Stump singled to right field. Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak retired the next Eagle hitter on a popup to the catcher. Natalie Smith singled to center field to drive Chloe Feldpausch home as Selena Stump advanced to second base and took third base on a throw to the plate. Natalie Smith also went to second base on the throw.

Addison Spicer singled to left field to drive Selena Stump home as Natalie Smith moved up to third base. Paisley Hansen singled to left field to drive Natalie Smith in with the game’s tying run. Addison Spicer went to second base. Addison Spicer went to third base and Paisley Hansen to second base on a wild pitch.

Caroline Chumbley came in to pitch for DeWitt. Ellery Harshman went out to play left field.

Kerigan Pung walked to load the bases. Molly Schlak singled up the middle to drive in Addison Spicer and Paisley Hansen with the go-ahead runs. Kerigan Pung advanced to second base on the single; she went to third base and Molly Schlak to second base on a throw to the plate. Caroline Chumbley retired the next batter on a grounder to the pitcher. When the runner tried to score from third base on the play, DeWitt First Baseman Kennedy Goerge fired the ball home and the runner was out to end the inning.

Fowler scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take an 11-9 lead.

Sydney Ferguson lined a single to left field to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for DeWitt. Sydney Ferguson stole second base. Neelah O’Rourke retired the next Panther batter on a fly to Chloe Feldpausch in deep center field. Sydney Ferguson advanced to third base on a groundout to third base by Madeline Torrence. Kiley Zatkin singled to center field to drive Sydney Ferguson home. DeWitt made its final out of the inning on a grounder to second base.

DeWitt scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Fowler lead to 11-10.

DeWitt Pitcher Caroline Chumbley struck out Fowler’s leadoff batter in the top of the seventh inning and retired the next hitter on a grounder to the shortstop. Saige Miller beat out an infield single and stole second base. Fowler made its final out of the inning on a groundout to first base.

Ellery Hershman blooped a single to short right-center field to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for DeWitt. Neelah O’Rourke struck out the next Panther hitter. Ellery Hershman advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Kennedy Goerge singled to center field to drive Ellery Hershman home with the game’s tying run. Ava Kujansuu came in to pinch run for Kennedy Goerge.

Jamie Cook singled up the middle and Ava Kujansuu went to second base. Sydney Ferguson blasted a double to drive in Ava Kujansuu with the winning run.

DeWitt scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and won the game 12-11.

Addison Spicer had a double, two singles and three RBI for Fowler. Paisley Hansen had two singles and three RBI. Saige Miller and Natalie Smith each had two singles and one RBI. Chloe Feldpausch had two singles. Molly Schlak had one single and two RBI. Selena Stump had one single and one RBI. Jaydn Feldpausch had one single.

Neelah O’Rourke came back after a tough first inning to pitch a complete game. She struck out two DeWitt batters.

Sydney Ferguson had a double, three singles and two RBI for DeWitt. Kiley Zatkin had a double, a single and four RBI. Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak and Kennedy Goerge each had a single and one RBI. Emily Agnew, Molly Brya, Jamie Cook and Ellery Harshman each had one single.

Kaydence Ballinger-Szostak pitched five and one third innings for DeWitt and struck out two batters. Caroline Chumbley pitched one and two thirds innings for DeWitt and struck out one batter.