DeWitt at Portland – – Softball Doubleheader Second Game – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 14, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is in Portland, where the Raider girls are hosting the Panthers from DeWitt in a softball doubleheader. I also covered today’s first game and you can find the link to that article here. https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/04/14/dewitt-at-portland-softball-doubleheader-first-game-the-bleacher-denizen-april-14-2026-by-chuck-krafft/

While we wait for the game to begin, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “Georgia On My Mind” from my You Tube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrWlNWzmTiw

Here are the starting lineup. In something that happens only in softball logic, Portland is the “visiting” team even though we are playing in Portland. DeWitt is the “home” team and will bat last. Here are the starting lineups.

PORTLAND

Bella Spitzley ss

Veda Smith rf

Lilly Thelen cf

Molly Miilu p

Rylee Miller 1b

Carley Bower 2b

Madison Daggett 3b

Brynn Nelson lf

Willa Almey c

DEWITT

Ruby Puck ss

Tess Rypstra 2b

Ellery Harshman cf

Madeline Torrence 3b

Emily Agnew dp

Kiley Zatkin 1b

Mikayla Kent c

Caroline Chumbley p

Mayah Walker lf

Kaydence Ballinger will play right field, but will not bat.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally observant eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to have much of a softball career. He was showing promise as a defensive outfielder, but everything fell apart when the baseball powers that be ruled that he was no longer allowed to use a bushel basket to catch fly balls. When the fly balls started falling in, the Bleacher Denizen’s playing time fell off.

DeWitt Pitcher Caroline Chumbley retired the Portland leadoff batter in the top of the second inning on a fly to second base. Veda Smith walked and went to second base on a single to right field by Lilly Thelen. Caroline Chumbley struck ou the next DeWitt batter. Rylee Miller beat out an infield single to load the bases. Carley Bower beat out an infield single to drive Veda Smith home as Lilly Thelen advanced to third base and Rylee Miller to second. Portland’s next hitter was out on a grounder to first base.

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

Portland Pitcher Molli Miilu retired the three DeWitt first inning hitters on a fly to right field, a strikeout and another fly to right field where Veda Smith made a great running catch!!

Brynn Nelson lined a single off the pitcher’s glove to open the top of the second inning for Portland. She took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Willa Almey and went to third base on a fly out to right field by Bella Spitzley. Caroline Chumbley retired the next Raider batter on a popup to second base to end the inning.

Madeline Torrence walked to lead off the bottom of the second inning for DeWitt and advanced to second base when Emily Agnew was safe on an error. Madeline Torrence was out at third and Kiley Zatkin safe at first on a fielder’s choice grounder to third base. Emily Agnew advanced to second base on the play. After a double steal, Emily Agnew was on third base and Kiley Zatkin on second base. Mikayla Kent walked to load the bases.

Molli Miilu struck out the next batter. Madeline Torrence scored, Kiley Zatkin went to third base and Mikayla Kent to second when Mayah Walker was safe at first base on the error. DeWitt made its third out on a grounder to the shortstop. Rylee Miller made a great stretch for the ball at first base to ensure the out.

DeWitt scored one run in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 1-1.

Lilly Thelen singled to right-center field to lead off the top of the third inning for Portland and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Molli Miilu. Rylee Miller grounded a single up the middle to drive Lilly Thelen home.

Carley Bower walked and Rylee Miller advanced to second base. Rylee Miller advanced to third base on a fly out to center field as Carley Bower held at first base. Rylee Miller scored and Carley Bower advanced to second base when Brynn Nelson was safe at first base on an error. Caroline Chumbley retired the next Raider batter on a bouncer to the pitcher to end the inning.

Portland scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.

Molli Miilu retired the Panther leadoff batter in the bottom of the third inning on a grounder to second base. Ellery Harshman beat out an infield single. Molli Miilu retired the next Panther batter on a fly to right field. Raider Catcher Willa Almey rifled a throw to second base to catch the runner stealing for the final out of the inning.

Bella Spitzley singled to left field to lead off the top of the fourth inning for the Raiders and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Veda Smith. Lilly Thelen beat out an infield single and Bella Spitzley advanced to third base. Lilly Thelen stole second base. Bella Spitzley scored and Lilly Thelen advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly to center field by Molly Miilu. Rylee Miller singled to center field to drive Lilly Thelen home.

Rylee Miller advanced to third base on a double to deep left field by Carley Bower. The next Portland batter was out on a fly to center field to end the inning.

Portland scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 5-1.

Kiley Zatkin singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for DeWitt. Kiley Zatkin was out at second base and Mikayla Kent safe at first base on a fielder’s choice grounder to the shortstop. Molly Miilu struck out the next Panther batter. Mikayla Kent advanced to second base when Mayah Walker slapped a single to left field. DeWitt made its third out on a fly to right field.

Tess Rypstra took over pitching duties for DeWitt in the top of the fifth inning. Madeline Torrence moved to second base and Emily Agnew went to third base.

Tess Rypstra retired the first two Raider hitters in the top of the fifth inning on a grounder to third base and a popup to the pitcher. Bella Spitzley lined a single to center field. Portland made its third out on a grounder to the shortstop.

DeWitt made its first out of the bottom of the fifth inning on a fly to left field. Portland Second Baseman reacted quickly on a line drive by Ellery Harshman and caught it for the out. DeWitt made its third out on a popup to first base.

Tess Rypstra retired the first two Raider batters in the top of the sixth inning on a grounder to the pitcher and a grounder to the shortstop. Rylee Miller singled to right field. Portland made its third out on a grounder to the pitcher.

Portland Center Fielder Lilly Thelen ran in and made a great catch of a sinking line drive to record the first DeWitt out of the bottom of the sixth inning. Portland Left Fielder Brynn Nelson made a great catch running back into the outfield to catch a nice drive by Kiley Zatkin for the second Panther out. DeWitt made its third out on a fly to center field.

With six full innings in the books, Portland has a 5-1 lead.

Tess Rypstra struck out the first two Raider hitters in the top of the seventh inning and got the third out on a grounder to third base.

Pinch Hitter Kelsie Queen walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning for DeWitt. London Montgomery came in to pinch run for Kelsie Queen and stole second base. Mayah Walker singled to center field for DeWitt. When the runner tried to advance to third base, Raider Center Fielder Lilly Thelen made a fine throw to get her out. Mayah Walker advanced to second base on the throw to third.

Mayah Walker advanced to third base on a groundout to second base by Ruby Puck. Raider First Baseman Rylee Miller made a diving stop of a shot down the first base line by Tess Rypstra to record the third Panther out.

Portland won the second game of this double header by the final score of 5-1.

Mayah Walker had two singles for DeWitt. Ellery Harshman and Kiley Zatkin each had one single.

Caroline Chumbley pitched four innings for DeWitt. Tess Rypstra pitched three shutout innings for DeWitt. She gave up two hits and struck out two batters.

Rylee Miller had four singles and two RBI for Portland. Lilly Thelen had three singles. Carley Bower had one single, one double and one RBI. Bella Spitzley had two singles. Brynn Nelson had one single. Molly Miilu had one RBI.

Molly Miilu pitched the complete game for Portland. She allowed only one run and four hits. She struck out three DeWitt batters.