Laingsburg at Fowler – – Second Game of Softball Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 30, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft
Today, the Bleacher Denizen is at Fowler High blogging the doubleheader between the Wolfpack of Laingsburg and Fowler’s Eagles. I also covered the first game of this doubleheader. Here is the play by play of that game. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/05/01/laingsburg-at-fowler-first-game-of-softball-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-april-30-2026-by-chuck-krafft/
While we wait for this game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this Ragtime tune with a bit of humor inserted from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUieaBvS38w
Here are the starting lineups. In a mind-boggling bit of logic, even though we are playing on Fowler’s softball field, Laingsburg will be the “home” team. Fowler will bat first. While all the fans, players, coaches and umpires seem to understand this, your Aging Bleacher Denizen’s mind simply boggles!
FOWLER
Bristol Miller 2b
Rachel Wirth cf
Saige Miller ss
Addison Spicer 3b
Kerigan Pung c
Selena Stump rf
Neelah O’Rourke p
Molly Schlak lf
Ayana Canfield 1b
LAINGSBURG
Savvy Stirm 1b
Addi Westfall cf
Bella Latuszek ss
Harper Strouse c
Peyton Stahr p
Skylar Stiff dp
JuJu Latuszek 3b
Alaina Asher lf
Alayna Merrell 2b
Makenna Johnston will play right field, but will not bat.
It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally open eyes of a Bleacher Denizen who never got very far with his baseball (or softball) game. While the Bleacher Denizen was showing some promise as a baserunner and speedy defensive outfielder, the baseball powers that be ruined everything when they decreed he was no longer allowed to attach a rocket belt to aid his speed. When the stolen bases dropped and the fly balls started dropping in, the Bleacher Denizen’s playing time dropped.
Laingsburg Pitcher Peyton Stahr retired the three Fowler batters in the first inning on a liner to third base, a bunt to third base and a fly to right field.
Savvy Stirm walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Laingsburg. She took second base on a grounder to the shortstop by Addi Westphal. Fowler Shortstop Saige Miller, who will be playing softball in the Big Ten at Maryland next season went to her knees to stop the ball and managed to get the ball to third baseman Addison Spicer, who tagged the runner out at first base. Bella Latuszek was safe on the fielder’s choice play. Saige Miller continued flashing the leather as she speared a hot line drive off the bat of Harper Strouse to end the inning.
Addison Spicer led off the top of the second inning for Fowler by clouting a drive that Laingsburg Center Fielder Addi Westfall ran back to make a great running catch. The next Fowler hitter was out on a bouncer to third base. Laingsburg First Baseman Savvy Stirm made an alert play to tag the runner when the throw pulled her off the base.
Selena Stump singled to left field. Neelah O’Rourke grounded a single up the middle and Selena Stump advanced to second base. Molly Schlak lined a single to left field. Selena Stump went to third base and Neelah O’Rourke to second. Peyton Stahr struck out the next hitter for the third out to keep Fowler from scoring.
Fowler Pitcher Neelah O’Rourke retired the three Laingsburg batters in the second inning on a fly to third base and two grounders to the shortstop.
After two innings, the score was 0-0.
Laingsburg Second Baseman Alayna Merrell made a great diving catch of a liner by Bristol Miller to get Fowler’s leadoff batter in the top of the third inning out. Peyton Stahr retired the next two batters on a bouncer to the pitcher and a popup to the shortstop to end the inning.
Neelah O’Rourke retired Laingsburg’s leadoff batter in the top of the third inning on a bouncer to the pitcher. Alayna Merrell singled to left field and went to second base when Savvy Stirm was hit by a pitch. Laingsburg made its next two outs on a liner to third base and a fielder’s choice grounder to third base.
Peyton Stahr retired Fowler’s leadoff batter in the fourth inning on a grounder to the shortstop. Kerigan Pung singled to right field and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Selena Stump. Fowler made its third out on a fly to second base.
Harper Strouse lined a single to left field to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Laingsburg. Neelah O’Rourke made a diving catch in the air of an attempted sacrifice bunt to record Laingsburg’s first out of the inning. Skylar Stiff singled to center field and Harper Strouse advanced to second base. A double steal put Harper Strouse on third base and Skylar Stiff on second base. An error allowed Harper Strouse to score on the play and Skylar Stiff to advance to third base.
JuJu Latuszek singled to left field to drive Skylar Stiff home. Neelah O’Rourke struck out the next Laingsburg hitter. JuJu Latuszek stole second base. Laingsburg made its third out on a grounder to second base.
Laingsburg scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Peyton Stahr retired Fowler’s leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning on a fly to center field. Ayana Canfield was hit by a pitch and took second base when Bristol Miller was safe on a bunt single. Fowler made its second out on a fly to center field. Saige Miller blasted a double off the center field fence to drive Ayana Canfield and Bristol Miller home. Laingsburg Right Fielder Makenna Johnston made a great running catch of a foul fly ball to secure Fowler’s third out.
Fowler scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2.
Neelah O’Rourke retired Laingsburg’s leadoff hitter in the top of the fifth inning on a liner to third base. Addi Westfall doubled to left field. Laingsburg made its second out on a fly to left field. Addi Westfall advanced to third base on a wild pitch. The Wolfpack made its third out on a grounder to the shortstop.
Peyton Stahr retired the three Fowler hitters in the top of the sixth inning on a popup to the shortstop, a soft line drive to second base and a grounder to second base.
Neelah O’Rourke retired the three Laingsburg hitters in the bottom of the sixth inning on a fly to center field, a grounder to the shortstop and a fly to the shortstop.
Peyton Stahr struck out the first two Fowler batters in the top of the seventh inning and got the third out on a fly to right field.
Neelah O’Rourke got the Laingsburg leadoff batter in the top of the seventh inning out on a fly to center field. Alayna Merrell singled to left field and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Laingsburg made its second out on a fly to left field. Alayna Merrell advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Neelah O’Rourke got the next Wolfpack batter out on a grounder to second base to end the inning.
The game was tied 2-2 after seven innings and we had EXTRA INNINGS!!
This means that just like in the major leagues, a runner will be placed on second base at the start of every inning until the game ends.
Bristol Miller was placed on second base to start out the top of the eighth inning for Fowler. She went to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Wirth. Saige Miller doubled to right field to drive Bristol Miller home. Fowler made its next out on a fly to center field. Kerigan Pung singled to short right field to drive Saige Miller home. (Alayna Merrell, who had been making outstanding plays at second base made a great diving effort on the ball and almost made the catch.)
Kerigan Pung went to second base on the throw home and advanced to third base when Selena Stump singled to left field. Peyton Stahr struck out the next Eagle batter to end the inning.
Fowler scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Selena Stump went in to pitch for Fowler and Neelah O’Rourke went to right field.
Addi Westfall was placed on second base to begin the bottom of the eighth inning for Laingsburg. She went to second base on a groundout to the shortstop by Bella Latuszek. Harper Strouse walked. Payton Stahr singled to left field to drive Addi Westfall home as Harper Strouse advanced to second base. Maddy Butler entered the game as a courtesy runner for Peyton Stahr.
Selena Stump retired the next two Wolfpack batters on a fly to right field and a grounder to third base to end the inning and the game.
Fowler won the nightcap of the doubleheader by the final score of 4-3 in eight innings.
Alayna Merrell had two singles for Laingsburg. Addi Westfall had a double. Peyton Stahr and JuJu Latuszek each had one single and one RBI. Harper Strouse and Skylar Stiff each had one single.
Peyton Stahr pitched the complete eight inning game for Laingsburg. She gave up four runs; only three of them were earned. She struck out four Fowler batters.
Saige Miller had two doubles and three RBI for Laingsburg. Kerrigan Pung had two singles and one RBI. Selena Stump had two singles. Bristol Miller, Neelah O’Rourke and Molly Schlak each had one single.
Neelah O’Rourke pitched seven innings, which would be a complete game most nights. She gave up two runs, but only one was an earned run. She struck out one batter. Selena Stump pitched one inning and gave up one unearned run.