By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
While Rossville softball lost its first game of the year Monday night, the Bulldawgs also gave defending Class 4A state champion Wamego its lone loss of the 2022 campaign in front of the Rossville faithful.
Rossville (15-1) knocked off a bruising Wamego (16-1) team 5-2 in Game 1 of the doubleheader split on Monday night before Wamego answered with a 5-0 win in the second game..
An incredible night in the circle for Vanesa Quinones, great defensive play in the outfield and smart base-running from Rossville would assist the 3A school in the huge first-game victory.
“That win was big for us,” Rossville coach John Nitsch said. “Jumping out to an early lead against a team like (Wamego) was important. We’ve only played one game in three weeks due to the weather. So the fact that we got a win against them was good.”
Rossville's Vanesa Quinones bats Monday night against Wamego while teammate Caylee Douglas is the baserunner at third base for the Bulldawgs. Rossville earned a spit with Wamego in a battle between teams that entered the night unbeaten. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Mother Nature’s toll on Rossville’s squad gave them adversity to overcome on Monday, but it was certainly not too much for them to handle.
“Rossville is a historically tough program,” Wamego coach Luke Meyer said. “They gave us our first loss and we gave them their first loss. We knew today was going to be a battle and nothing was going to be handed to us.”
Rossville's ability to capitalize on other teams' mistakes has been a trademark for this team all year. Coming into the first game, Rossville had outscored their opponents, 156-30.
Wamego made too many mistakes in the first inning and that would make its mark on Rossville’s win.
In the bottom of the first inning, the sun affected Wamego’s right fielder and the Bulldogs were able to get a runner on the basepaths from an error.
Rossville’s speed would force the Red Raiders into another error in the circle shortly after and Rossville was able to get a runner home giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
Maxine Smith would capitalize on Wamego’s mistakes plating home two more in with a two-run single.
Kiera Barber would challenge Wamego star pitcher Maya Gallagher with an eight-pitch at-bat before hitting a run-scoring single in the bottom of the first.
Wamego was staring at a 4-0 deficit to end the first inning and with a tough starting pitcher in Quinones on the other side.
Ryann Alderson would give the Red Raiders some life with a run in the top of the second inning, scoring on a wild pitch.
Trista Hoobler would decrease Wamego’s deficit by two runs with a one-run single in the top of the third inning.
That would be the only offense Wamego could collect against high-powered Rossville. Quinones would close the door on Wamego’s perfect season and Rossville would earn the 5-2 victory.
Game 2 would be a much different story for both teams.
Wamego’s freshman phenom Peyton Hardenburger would be in the circle in the second game. Hardenburger hasn’t allowed an earned run the entire year and was coming off of a 20-strikeout performance against Silver Lake.
For Wamego, Maya Gallagher’s three RBI, Ryann Alderson’s 2-run home run and the stellar performance in the circle by Hardenburger were monumental in the 5-0 victory against Rossville.
Like Rossville in the opener, Wamego would start off hot in the nightcap
Wamego would start on the right foot with a Gallagher two-run double in the top of the first inning.
Rossville would have a difficult time getting runners on the basepaths for the first four innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Rossville’s Caylee Douglas would get a rare hit off of Hardenburger. Douglas would then make her way to third base with the threat of Rossville decreasing the deficit by one run.
A bloop grounder would be hit in Gallagher’s path at the third base where she would fire in the ball to the catcher, Jordan Diehl. Diehl would make the momentum-stopping play at home plate. Diehl’s tag was enormous and it prevented Rossville from inflicting any damage.
Alderson would give Wamego some insurance in the top of the sixth as Alderson would blast a two-run home run giving the Red Raiders a 4-0 lead.
Gallagher would add one last run for Wamego in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly.
Like many other teams, Rossville had to face a lights-out Hardenburger who would shut out the Bulldogs in the victory.
The newly battle-tested Rossville (15-1) will host Rock Creek on Tuesday night.
Game one
Rossville (15-0) -- 400 001 0 -- 5 7 1
Wamego (15-1) -- 011 000 0 -- 2 4 2
W -- Quinones. L -- Gallagher.
Game two
Rossville (15-1) -- 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
Wamego (16-1) -- 200 002 1 -- 5 7 0
W -- Hardenburger. L -- Dyche.
