Portland St. Patrick at Laingsburg – – First Game of Softball Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 13, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft
Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is in Laingsburg to watch as the Wolfpack Softball team hosts the Shamrocks from Portland St. Patrick. He is rising like the Phoenix from Greek Mythology to write up his first game of the softball/baseball season. Weather and health have kept him on the sidelines so far, but he made it to Laingsburg and will write up the softball doubleheader.
The intention was to watch baseball, but the baseball game was moved because the field was not playable. Fortunately, Laingsburg Coach Jeff Cheadle and St. Patrick Coach Jocelyn Rockey were willing to accommodate me covering the softball game with no advance notice. (Thanks to both of them. I try to never blindside coaches!)
While we wait for the game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this novelty comedy cover video of “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron”, which was a hit for the Royal Guardsmen in the ancient times known as 1966. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHucLvxuQx8
Here are the starting lineups for the opening game. St. Patrick is the visiting team and will bat first.
ST. PATRICK
Lily Sandborn 3b
Macie Leonard 2b
Grace Rockey ss
Izzy Anthony c
Marian Davlin lf
Aislynn King rf
Morgan Krieger dp
Naomi Hass cf
Macie Smith 1b
Kennedy Drake will pitch, but will not bat.
LAINGSBURG
Savvy Stirm 1b
JuJu Latuszek dp
Bella Latuszek ss
Peyton Stahr 3b
Harper Strouse c
Skylar Stiff p
Makenna Johnston rf
Alaina Asher lf
Addy Westfall cf
Alayna Merrell will play second base, but will not bat.
It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who did not have much of a baseball career. However, opposing catchers and umpires were always thankful for the cooling breezes generated by your Bleacher Denizen’s flailing attempts to make the ball collide with his bat.
In the top of the first inning, Laingsburg Pitcher Skylar Stiff retired the three Shamrock hitters on a strikeout, a grounder to the shortstop and another strikeout.
Shamrock Pitcher Kennedy Drake retired the Laingsburg leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning on a grounder to the shortstop. JuJu Latuszek singled up the middle and stole second base. Bella Latuszek doubled over the center fielder’s head to drive JuJu Latuszek home. Peyton Stahr walked. Bella Latuszek advanced to third base and Peyton Stahr to second base on a wild pitch.
Harper Strouse walked to load the bases. Kennedy Drake struck out the next Wolfpack hitter. Bella Latuszek scored, Peyton Stahr went to third base and Harper Strouse to second base on a wild pitch. Laingsburg made its third out on a fly to center field.
Laingsburg scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Skylar Stiff struck out the St. Patrick leadoff batter in the top of the second inning. Marian Davlin lined a single off the pitcher’s glove. Skylar Stiff struck out the next two Shamrock hitters to end the inning.
Kennedy Drake struck out the Laingsburg leadoff batter in the bottom of the second inning. Addy Westfall beat out a bunt single, stole second base and went to third base on a wild pitch. Savvy Stirm was hit by a pitch and stole second base. JuJu Latuszek singled to drive Addy Westfall home. Savvy Stirm took third base and JuJu Latuszek advanced to second base on the throw to home plate.
Savvy Stirm scored and JuJu Latuszek took third base on a wild pitch. Bella Latuszek hit a sharp single to center field to drive JuJu Latuszek home. Peyton Starr singled past the shortstop and Bella Latuszek advanced to second base. Harper Strouse was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded with one out.
Grace Rockey took over the pitching duties for St. Patrick. Macie Leonard moved from second base to shortstop and Eden Zimmerman went in to play second base.
Skylar Stiff singled to left field to drive Bella Latuszek and Peyton Starr home. Harper Strouse advanced to second base. Maddy Butler entered the game as a courtesy runner for Skylar Stiff. Harper Strouse advanced to third base and Maddy Butler to second base on a wild pitch. Makenna Johnston walked to load the bases.
Alaina Asher singled off the shortstop’s glove to drive Harper Strouse home. Maddy Butler advanced to third base and Makenna Johnston went to second base. Addy Westphal singled to left field to drive Maddy Butler home as Makenna Johnston took third base and Alaina Asher second. Makenna Johnston was out at home and Savvy Stirm safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Alaina Asher advanced to third base and Addy Westphal to second base.
JuJu Matuszek walked to force Alaina Asher home as Addy Westphal moved up to third base and Savvy Stirm to second. Bella Latuszek doubled to right field to drive Addy Westphal, Savvy Stirm and JuJu Matuszek home. Peyton Stahr doubled out to the left field warning track to drive Bella Latuszek home. Peyton Stahr went to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right field by Harper Strouse.
Grace Rockey retired the next Wolfpack hitter to end the inning.
Laingsburg scored thirteen runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 15-0 lead.
Skylar Stirm struck out all three St. Patrick hitters in the top of the third inning.
Because of the mercy rule, the game was ended here and Laingsburg won 15-0.
Marian Davlin had a single for Portland St. Patrick.
Bella Latuszek had two doubles, one single and five RBI for Laingsburg. Peyton Stahr had a double, a single and one RBI. JuJu Latuszek had two singles and two RBI. Addy Westfall had two singles and one RBI. Skylar Stiff had a single and two RBI. Harper Strouse and Alaina Asher each had one single and one RBI.
I also covered the second game of this doubleheader. Here is the link to that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/04/14/portland-st-patrick-at-laingsburg-second-game-of-softball-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-april-13-2026-by-chuck-krafft/