Laingsburg at Fowler – – First Game of Softball Doubleheader – – The Bleacher Denizen – – April 30, 2026 – – by Chuck Krafft

Today, your Bleacher Denizen is in Fowler to watch as the Eagles host the Wolfpack from Laingsburg in a softball doubleheader.

While we wait for this game to start, I hope you will enjoy this cover video of “God Bless the USA” (Lee Greenwood)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ePjJiWG5OY

Here are the starting lineups. Laingsburg is the visiting team and will bat first.

LAINGSBURG

Savvy Stirm 1b

Addi Westfall cf

Bella Latuszek ss

Harper Strouse c

Peyton Stahr 3b

Skylar Stiff p

JuJu Latuszek dp

Makenna Johnston rf

Alayna Merrell 2b

Alaina Asher will play left field, but will not bat.

FOWLER

Bristol Miller 2b

Rachel Wirth cf

Saige Miller ss

Addison Spicer 3b

Kerigan Pung c

Selena Stump p

Neelah O’Rourke rf

Molly Schlak lf

Payton Rademacher 1b

It is now time to review the events of this game through the somewhat alert eyes of an Aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to get a baseball or softball career started. However, many opposing catchers and umpires loved the comforting, cooling breezes generated by your Bleacher Denizen’s flailing attempts to hit baseballs!

Savvy Stirm singled to left field to lead off the top of the first inning for Laingsburg. Fowler Pitcher Selena Stump retired the next batter on a popup to the shortstop. Bella Latuszek singled up the middle and Savvy Stirm went to second base. Harper Strouse walked to load the bases. Peyton Stahr singled to drive Savvy Stirm and Bella Latuszek home as Harper Strouse advanced to third base.

Fowler Shortstop Saige Miller, who will be playing softball in the Big Ten for the University of Maryland next year, showed us one reason why when she fielded a grounder from the bat of Skylar Stiff. Instead of taking the sure out at first base, she fired the ball home to get the runner trying to score from third. Saige Miller has a great arm and certainly showed it here. This saved a run for Fowler.

Selena Stump retired the next Wolfpack batter on a fielder’s choice grounder to second base to end the inning.

Laingsburg scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Bristol Miller (Saige’s freshman sister) walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning for Fowler. A pickoff throw went awry, but Laingsburg Right Fielder alertly backed up the play to prevent the runner on first from advancing. Bristol Miller took second base on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Wirth. Saige Miller blasted a home run that went over the left-center field fence with at least fifty feet to spare; Bristol Miller also scored.

Laingsburg Pitcher Skylar Stiff retired the next two batters on grounders to the shortstop to end the inning.

Fowler scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 2-2.

Selena Stump retired the three Laingsburg hitters in the top of the second inning on a fly to right field where Neelah O’Rourke made a fine running catch, a grounder to first base and a grounder to third base.

Neelah O’Rourke singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Fowler and went to second base on a wild pitch. Neelah O’Rourke advanced to third base on a productive groundout to second base by Molly Schlak. Skylar Stiff struck out the next Fowler hitter. Bristol grounded a clutch two out single to center field to drive Neelah O’Rourke home.

Rachel Wirth lined a single to left field and Bristol Miller advanced to second base. Saige Miller was intentionally walked to load the bases. Skylar Stiff retired the next Eagle batter on a grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.

Fowler scored one run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead.

Addi Westfall beat out a bunt single to lead off the top of the third inning for Laingsburg and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Selena Stump retired the next two hitters on flies to center field. Rachel Wirth made an excellent running catch on the second one. Laingsburg made its third out on a popup to the shortstop.

Skylar Stiff retired the first two Fowler hitters in the bottom of the third inning on a grounder to the shortstop and a strikeout. Neelah O’Rourke and Molly Schlak both walked. Skylar Stiff struck out the next Eagle batter to end the inning.

Selena Stump retired the first two Wolfpack batters in the top of the fourth inning on a bouncer to the pitcher and a fly to the shortstop. Makenna Johnston walked and went to second base on a single by Alayna Merrell. Savvy Stirm doubled down the left field line to drive Makenna Johnston home as Alayna Merrell went to third base.

Alayna Merrell scored and Savvy Stirm advanced to third base when Addi Westfall was safe at first base on an error. Addi Westfall stole second base. Bella Latuszek singled to right field to drive Savvy Stirm and Addi Westfall home. Fowler First Baseman Payton Rademacher made a long run to catch a foul popup to end the inning.

Laingsburg scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 6-3 lead.

Bristol Miller singled down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning for Fowler. She advanced to second base on a bounce out to the pitcher. Saige Miller was intentionally walked. Laingsburg second baseman made a great play to knock a line drive by Addison Spicer down and barely got her out at first base. Bristol Miller went to third base and Saige Miller to second. Bristol Miller and Saige Miller both scored when Kerigan Pung was safe at first base on an error. Laingsburg Left Fielder Alaina Asher made an excellent running catch to get the third Fowler out.

Fowler scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Laingsburg lead to 6-5.

Peyton Stahr singled to right center field to lead off the top of the fifth inning for Laingsburg. She advanced to third base when Skylar Stiff was safe at first base on an error when she placed a sacrifice bunt. Maddy Butler entered the game as a courtesy runner for Skylar Stiff. JuJu Latuszek hit a grounder to Shortstop Saige Miller, who fired the ball home to prevent Peyton Stahr from scoring from third base. Peyton Stahr returned to third base as Maddy Butler advanced to second base and JuJu Latuszek was safe at first base.

Makenna Johnston singled to right field to drive Peyton Stahr home as Maddy Butler went to third base and JuJu Latuszek to second base. Alayna Merrell hit a vicious line drive, but Fowler Second Baseman Bristol Miller was able to snag the ball and flip it to her sister Shortstop Saige Miller to double the runner off second base.

Savvy Stirm singled to right field. Maddy Butler scored and Makenna Johnston went to second base. Selena Stump retired the next Laingsburg batter on a bouncer to the pitcher to end the inning.

Laingsburg scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 8-5.

Neelah O’Rourke walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning for Fowler. Skylar Stiff struck out the next Eagle batter. Neelah O’Rourke advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Pinch Hitter Ayana Canfield. Skylar Stiff retired the next Eagle batter on a grounder to the shortstop to end the inning.

Ayana Canfield went in to play first base for Fowler.

Selena Stump retired the first two Laingsburg batters in the bottom of the fifth inning on a grounder to third base and a fly to center field where Rachel Wirth made a great running, scooping catch of a bloop by Harper Strouse. Peyton Stahr singled to center field. Everly Izzo entered the game to pinch run for Peyton Stahr. Selena Stump retired the next Wolfpack batter on a fly to second base to end the inning.

Peyton Stahr went in to pitch for Laingsburg. JuJu Latuszek moved to third base.

Rachel Wirth beat out a bunt single to lead off the top of the sixth inning for Fowler. Peyton Stahr retired the next three Fowler hitters on a popup to the pitcher, a line drive to second base where Alayna Merrell made a great diving grab and a strikeout.

Selena Stump retired the three Laingsburg hitters in the top of the seventh inning on a fly to the pitcher, a fly to right field where Neelah O’Rourke made a fine running catch and a grounder to second base.

Peyton Stahr retired the three Fowler hitters in the bottom of the seventh inning on a line drive to first base where Savvy Stirm made a great diving catch and two strikeouts.

Laingsburg won the first game of this doubleheader by the final score of 8-5.

Saige Miller had a home run and two RBI for Fowler. (She was also intentionally walked twice.) Bristol Miller had two singles and one RBI. Rachel Wirth had two singles. Addison Spicer and Neelah O’Rourke each contributed one single.

Selena Stump pitched the complete game for the Eagles.

Savvy Stirm had a double, two singles and two RBI for Laingsburg. Peyton Stahr had three singles and two RBI. Bella Latuszek had two singles and two RBI. Makenna Johnston had one single and one RBI. Alayna Merrell and Addi Westfall each had one single.

Skyler Stiff pitched five innings for Laingsburg. She gave up five runs, but only three were earned runs. She also struck out three Fowler batters. Peyton Stahr pitched two shutout innings and struck out three batters.

I also covered the second game of this doubleheader. Here is the play by play of the second game!! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2026/05/01/laingsburg-at-fowler-second-game-of-softball-doubleheader-the-bleacher-denizen-april-30-2026-by-chuck-krafft/