Meridian ends Farwell softball season in district championship

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

After an impressive come-from-behind win earlier in the day, the Farwell softball team might have ran out of steam a bit in the Division 3 district championship. The Lady Eagles were taking on tourney host Meridian on Saturday, and they saw their season come to a 14-1 loss.

“Had a tough time with this one, Meridian is great team led by a very knowledgeable coach,” head coach Emily Lauer said. “I’m hoping those girls can make it a little bit farther.  I think we wore ourselves out with the amazing comeback in the first game lol despite this loss I was super proud and happy for my girls today.”

The Lady Mustangs led 3-0 through three innings and put the game away with a six-run spot in the bottom of the fourth.

Marley Allbee took the loss in the circle for the Eagles. On offense, Karleigh Ames and Allena Wunderlich had one hit apiece, with Ames adding one RBI.

Things were much more fun for the team earlier in the day, as they rallied from a deficit as much as eight runs to take down Beaverton in the semi-finals, 10-8.

“So proud of my girls this game,” Lauer said. “They dug deep and came back in such a fantastic way. They stuck with each other, made great plays, and clawed their way back in this one. Such a great game for us to show what we were really made of.”

The Lady Beavers hit a home run in the third to lead 2-0 and they plated six runs in the top of the fifth to push that gap to 8-0.

Farwell started its rally with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by Jaycee Stover getting a two-run double. Karleigh Ames, Evie Bell and Alaina Slocum all had one single, and they scored one run each in the rally as well.

The Eagles stayed hot in the bottom of the sixth, as they scored another five runs to get out in front. Ames had a big two-run double during this half of the inning.

Anna Vanbuskirk got the win, as she went all seven innings and gave up eight runs, two earned on five hits, 11 strikeouts and four walks.

Ames had two hits and three RBI and Vanbuskirk also had two hits.

© Clare County Cleaver