Perry at Pewamo-Westphalia – – Softball – – First Game of Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 14, 2025 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is covering his first CMAC softball game of the year! He made the trip to Pewamo-Westphalia High School where the hosting Pirates will play the visiting Ramblers from Perry.

I got a chance to meet with P-W (abbreviated to save wear and tear on your Aging Bleacher Denizen’s typing fingers) Coach Stan Bauer and Perry Coach Kris Smith to get the starting lineups, and here they are!!

There is a fierce wind blowing out to left field today; it is strong enough to possibly turn every fly ball or popup into an adventure.

Perry is the visiting team and will bat first.

PERRY

Teagan Hallock cf

Sara Austin p

Madison Ralston ss

Alivia Davis 1b

Bella Hamel 3b

Grace Spiess lf

Ava Positano c

Ryleigh Allen 2b

Emma Winans rf

PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA

Summer Wirth cf

Reylee Thelen c

Taylor Nurenberg ss

Makayla McRae p

Rylee Reddin 1b

Elyse Thelen 3b

Maddy Weber lf

Carlee Fox rf

Peyton Eklund 2b

While we wait for this game to get started, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “Georgia” from my You Tube Channel!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrWlNWzmTiw

Let’s take a look at the events of this game through the eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who, unfortunately, was not able to have much of a career in baseball or softball. I do take pride in the fact that on hot summer days, opposing catchers and umpires loved the cooling breezes generated by my flailing attempts to hit the ball!!

Teagan Hallock led off the game for Perry with a walk; she stole second base and took third base on an error. Sara Austin walked. Madison Kloeckner entered the game as a courtesy runner for Sara Austin and stole second base. Madison Ralston was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Alivia Davis was hit by a pitch and Teagan Hallock was forced home with the game’s first run. Sara Austin went to third base and Madison Ralston to second base.

Makayla McRae retired the next hitter on a popup where Pirate shortstop Taylor Nurenberg made a nice play to keep the wind-blown fly from falling safely. Everyone was safe when Grace Spiess hit a fielder’s choice grounder. Sara Austin scored, Madison Ralston went to third and Alivia Davis took second base as Grace Spiess was safe at first.

Madison Ralston scored when Ava Positano was safe at first base on an error. Alivia Davis went to third base and Grace Spiess to second. Jessica Polhemus came into the game as a courtesy runner for Ava Positano. Ryleigh Allen hit a sharp line drive to third base; P-W’s Elyse Thelen had to react really quickly to catch it.

Alivia Davis scored when Emma Davis was safe at first on an error. Grace Spiess took third base and Jessica Polhemus advanced to second base. Makayla McRae retired the next Rambler hitter on a grounder to third base.

Perry scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Sara Austin struck out all three Pirate hitters in the bottom of the first inning.

Sara Austin drilled a single to left field to open the second inning for Perry. Madison Kloeckner came into the game as a courtesy runner for Sara Austin. P-W Left Fielder Maddy Weber fought off the wind to catch a fly ball to record Perry’s first out of the inning. Alivia Davis singled down the left field line and Madison Kloeckner moved up to second base.

Madison Kloeckner was out at third base and Bella Hamel safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Alivia Davis advanced to second base. Grace Spiess was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ava Positano hit a line drive to Pirate Center Fielder Summer Wirth, who caught it for the third Rambler out.

Sara Austin struck out the first two Pewamo-Westphalia batters to face her in the bottom of the second inning. She then retired the next batter on a groundout to the shortstop to end the inning.

Makayla McRae retired the Perry leadoff hitter in the top of the third inning on a fly to left field. Elyse Thelen made a fine play at third base on a slow roller to retire the next Rambler batter. Teagan Hallock singled up the middle and stole second base. Sara Austin doubled to left field to drive Teagan Hallock home. Madison Kloeckner entered the game as a courtesy runner for Sara Austin. Makayla McRae retired the next Rambler hitter on a grounder to shortstop to end the inning.

Perry scored one run in the top of the third inning to boost its lead to 5-0.

Sara Austin struck out all three P-W hitters in the bottom of the third inning, but Peyton Eklund was able to get to first base with two out on a dropped third strike where an error was made. Perry Catcher Ava Positano fired the ball to second base to catch the runner stealing and end the inning.

Alivia Davis doubled to right field to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Perry. She held at second base when Bella Hamel was safe at first base on a dropped popup. Makayla McRae retired the next Rambler batter on a line drive to the shortstop. Alivia Davis went to third base and Bella Hamel to second base when Ava Positano was safe at first base on an error. Jessica Polhemus entered the game as a courtesy runner for Ava Positano.

Ryleigh Allen walked to force Alivia Davis home as Bella Hamel went to third base and Jessica Polhemus to second base. Emma Winans was hit by a pitch to force Bella Hamel in with a Perry run. Jessica Polhemus went to third base and Emma Winans to second. Jessica Polhemus was out at home and Teegan Hallock safe at first on a fielder’s choice roller to the pitcher. Pirate Right Fielder Carlee Fox made a nice running catch in right field to record the third Rambler out.

Perry scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 7-0.

Summer Wirth led off the top of the fifth inning for Pewamo-Westphalia by beating out a bunt single. This was the first Pirate hit of the game. Summer Wirth stole second base as Sara Austin struck out the next batter. Summer Wirth stole third base as Sara Austin struck out the subsequent batter. Summer Wirth scored on a wild pitch. Surprise, surprise, Sara Austin also struck out the next Pirate hitter to end the bottom of the fourth inning.

Pewamo-Westphalia scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to shave the Perry lead to 7-1.

Joslyn Smith entered the game to play third base for the Pirates.

Makayla McRae struck out Perry’s leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning. Alivia Davis walked. Jessica Polhemus entered the game as a pinch runner for Alivia Davis. Makayla McRae retired the next Perry batter on a popup to shortstop Taylor Nurenberg, who alertly whipped the ball to first base to double off the runner.

Sara Austin struck out all three P-W batters in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Makayla McRae struck out Perry’s leadoff batter in the top of the sixth inning and retired the next batter on a grounder to the shortstop. Ryleigh Allen doubled down the left field line. Emma Winans walked. Teagan Hallock singled to center field. Pirate Center Fielder Summer Wirth made an excellent throw home to prevent a run from scoring. Ryleigh Allen held at third base and Emma Winans at second base. Sara Austin singled to left field to drive Ryleigh Allen home. Pirate Left Fielder Maddy Weber made a great throw home to retire the runner trying to score from second base and end the inning.

Perry scored one run in the top of the sixth inning to boost its lead to 8-1.

Sara Austin struck out all three P-W batters in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Madison Ralston lined a single to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Perry. Alivia Davis lined the ball off the pitcher’s glove; it glanced over to second base where Peyton Eklund grabbed it and quickly got the ball to first base to record the out. Madison Ralston took second base on the play. Madison Ralston went to third base when Bella Hamel was safe at first base on an error. Bella Hamel stole second base.

Grace Spiess drew a walk to load the bases. Madison Ralston scored on a wild pitch as Bella Hamel advanced to third base and Grace Spiess to second base. Ava Positano walked to reload the bases.

Alivia Miller came in to pitch for P-W. Joslyn Smith went to first base and Makayla McRae went to third base.

Bella Hamel scored on a wild pitch as Grace Spiess went to third base and Ava Positano to second. Grace Spiess and Ava Positano both scored when Ryleigh Allen was safe at second base on an error. Ryleigh Allen advanced to third base on Pinch Hitter Lila Stockenauer’s productive groundout to the shortstop. Teagan Hallock singled to right field to drive Ryleigh Allen in. Alivia Miller got Perry’s third out on a bouncer to the pitcher’s circle.

Perry added five runs in the top of the seventh inning to bring its lead to 13-1.

Sara Austin completed her dominating pitching performance by striking out all three P-W batters in the seventh inning to end the game.

Perry won the opener of this double header 13-1.

Summer Wirth had a bunt single for the only Pirate hit and scored the Pirate run.

Sara Austin had a double, two singles and two RBI for Perry. Teagan Hallock had three singles and one RBI. Alivia Davis had a single, a double and one RBI. Ryleigh Allen had a single and two RBI. Grace Spiess and Emma Winans each had one RBI.

Here is the play by play of the second game! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2025/04/15/perry-at-pewamo-westphalia-softball-second-game-of-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-april-14-2025-by-chuck-krafft/