PERRYSBURG — The closer the better might be the motto for Anthony Wayne’s softball team this season.
The Generals have thrived on winning close games and did it again Friday, pulling out a 3-2 Northern
Lakes League victory over Perrysburg. AW is 13-1 overall and 6-0 in the NLL while Perrysburg is 11-5,
3-4.
Freshman McKenzie Rhodes came off the bench to stroke an RBI double in the sixth inning to tie the game
at 2. After going to third on the throw home on her hit, Rhodes scored the winning run on a third strike
that bounced in the dirt and the play was made to first for the second out of the inning.
“I figured she had tagged Marissa (Shook) on the dropped third strike, but then I saw her throw to first
so I said I should probably score,” Rhodes said.
“I definitely hit a change-up. I saw it and I hit it,” she added about her hit.
Carolyn Vogtsberger, AW’s head coach, said that after a drill during Thursday’s practice, one of her
assistant coaches said the Rhodes was ready and could be used if a pinch-hitter was needed.
The struggle continued for the Yellow Jackets, who have lost three league games in three days scoring
only four runs in the three games.
“We just didn’t do the things we needed to do to sustain (a lead) and win the game,” Perrysburg head
coach Ryan DeMars said. “That’s our biggest problem right now.
“We need better offensive production. But if we’re only going to score that many runs, we cannot continue
to make as many mental and physical errors on defense as what we’ve done.”
AW got on the board in the first inning, loading the bases with no one out on a wind-aided double, a
single and a walk. After a strike out, Emily Kurfis’ ground ball scored Sarah Bores. Perrysburg’s
Lindsey Rich then worked out of further trouble with two strikeouts.
The Yellow Jackets tied the game in the fourth as Rich led off with a single. She was sacrificed to
second by Felicia Eisenbrandt and scored on Cammy Messenger’s single to center. Kayla Rice followed with
a single, but Kurfis got two strikeouts to end the threat.
Perrysburg took the lead in the fifth. With one out, Kimmy Granata walked and then advanced to second on
a ground ball to the pitcher. After Rich walked, Eisenbrandt hit an RBI single to make it 2-1. Kurfis
again avoided further getting a pop-out to end the inning.
The Yellow Jackets had one more chance in the seventh, getting back-to-back one-out singles from Granata
and Katie Dunphy. Kurfis then got a called third strike and an infield ground ball to end the game.
“Emily is in a zone. She got it done against their best hitters,” Vogtsberger said.
“Perrysburg is every bit as good as any team in this area,” she added. “Their pitcher is outstanding. For
so many innings she made us look like we didn’t know what we were doing.”
Bores made the defensive play of the game, a diving catch in center field of Dunphy’s bid for a base hit
in the first inning. Messenger also had a good defensive play, picking up an errant pickoff throw in
right field and throwing out the runner attempting to advance to second on the play.
AW had only four hits in the game as Rich struck out 13 and walked five.
DeMars said one of the big differences in the game
was AW took advantage of its opportunities and his team was not.
Messenger had two of Perrysburg’s seven hits as Kurfis walked three and struck out nine, including five
in the last three innings. Perrysburg left eight runners on base.
“We’re right there. We’re right on the verge,” DeMars said. “I sure as heck won’t want to be a team
playing us in the tournament.”
ANTHONY WAYNE 3, PERRYSBURG 2
ANTHONY WAYNE
100
002
0—3
4
PERRYSBURG
000
110
0—2
7
1
HITS — (AW) Bores, Megyesi, Kurfis, Rhoades; (P) Messenger 2, Granata, Dunphy, Rich, Eisenbrandt, Rice.
2B – (AW) Bores, Rhoades. RUNS — (AW) Bores, DelMonte, Rhoades; (P) Granata, Rich. RBI — (AW) Rhodes,
Kurfis; (P) Eisenbrandt, Messenger. SB — (AW) Rhodes.. SAC — (AW) Kurfis; (P) Eisenbrandt, Rice. LOB —
AWHS 5. Perrysburg 8.
PITCHING SUMMARY
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
Anthony Wayne
Kurfis (WP)
7
7
2
2
3
9
Perrysburg
Rich (LP)
7
4
3
3
5
13