Whetstone wins 4th straight City softball title
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Whetstone third baseman Lydia Pratt makes a throw to first base during the Braves’ victory over Briggs on May 23 to win this year’s City League championship. Photo: Kevin Rouch
A slow start didn’t get in the way of what the Whetstone softball team does best during the City League softball championship game Tuesday against Briggs.
The Braves have made big innings a key part of their resume all season according to coach Larry Peck, and they put together a 10-run second inning on their way to beating the Bruins 15-3.
It gave Whetstone a fourth consecutive league championship.
“(The second inning) was a lot of fun,” junior third baseman Lydia Pratt said. “Our energy level got really high and we just kept it going. It was not just about being a team but it’s also about being a family and loving each other.”
While Whetstone won the City League-North Division at 12-0 and finished 17-4 overall, Briggs won the City-South at 12-0 and finished 15-4 overall.
The Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when shortstop Brianna Dowell tripled and scored on a single by pitcher Alyssa Taylor, but the Braves responded in the bottom of the frame when catcher Gretchen Moss tripled and scored on a single by Pratt.
Then in the second inning, Whetstone seized control by having its first seven batters reach base.
Whetstone’s Avery Bair battles at the plate during the Braves’ win over Briggs on May 23 to capture this year’s City League title. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Nine-hole hitter and second baseman Lija Barzdukas singled in the first run, shortstop Larae Portis followed with a two-run single and left fielder Jillian Nelson and Moss then each had RBI-infield singles.
Pratt followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left field and center fielder Avery Bair continued the momentum with a two-run single. First baseman Sara Kraus also had an RBI-single in the inning.
“(Big innings have) kind of been our modus operandi,” Peck said. “We’ve done that before where we had big, big innings. It’s kind of been about our batting order. We’ve got leadoff hitters in three places in the batting order, so if we can turn the batting order, which we did in that inning, our top five are tremendous but we’ve got people in the bottom of the order that are also tremendous.”
Whetstone added three runs in the fourth, including Pratt having an RBI-triple.
Portis went 2-for-4 with four RBI, Moss was 2-for-4 with two RBI and four runs scored, Pratt was 2-for-3 with three RBI, Bair was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Kraus went 3-for-3.
Whetstone pitcher Nora Dahlberg brings a fastball during the Braves’ victory over Briggs to win this year’s City League title. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Pitcher Nora Dahlberg struck out five and walked two, allowing five hits while tossing a complete game for the victory.
“I love this team,” Moss said. “We worked really hard and we deserve it. It was a bit of a rough start, but we picked it back up really quickly and kept fighting to the end. We were a bit in our heads and it was a jittery start, but we just kept our heads in the game and realized there was another six innings.”
Dowell finished 3-for-3 and Taylor and third baseman Ariyonna Smith both had one hit for the Bruins, who lost their third consecutive City title game.
“We were well-prepared but we just had some errors,” Briggs coach Sam Taylor said. “The scary part is that it was everything we told them would happen. The nerves got the best of them.
“We had a fantastic year hitting, pitching and playing defense. I’ve got a great group of young girls and I’m excited for next year.”
Whetstone has won nine City championships in 16 seasons under Peck.
“All of our teams lately have been great, but these kids right here are together, very much a team,” Peck said. “They’ve got skills all through and play relatively good defense. This is a very resilient team and they believe in each other.”