IAC SOFTBALL: WAVERLY SHINES IN OPENER; BLANKS NEWARK VALLEY, 15-0 (24 PHOTOS) (2023-04-05)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Waverly was nearly flawless in all three facets of the game in a 15-0 five-inning season-opening win over Newark Valley here Wednesday afternoon in IAC South Large School Division softball action.

Junior Olivia Robinson fired a two-hit shutout, while the defense did not commit an error, and the offense pounded out 13 hits.

“We made a goal to come out today and play our best defensively and offensively, and we did that,” said Waverly coach Kayla WItman.

“Our pitching was on point with seven strike outs, allowing only 2 hits, and only walking one while our defense took care of the rest,” she noted.

“Our offense came out swinging as well, with many well-placed hits and aggressive base running.
 
“I’m proud of the team and how they played and supported one another,” Witman added. “It was a great first game for us.”

The Lady Wolverines took a quick 3-0 lead in the home half of the first inning.

Freshman Maddie Cron led off the game with a single, and sophomore Brinn Cooney walked. After a wild pitch, both runners scored on a two-run double by senior Michaela Lauper, who later scored on a passed ball.

Cron started a three-run rally in the second inning for the Lady Wolverines with a one out groundball single to left field. After stealing second base, Cron scored on a two-out RBI single by Lauper to make it 4-0.

Lauper scored two pitches later on an RBI double by Robinson, who scored two pitches later on an RBI double by 8th-grader Hannah Carpenter to make it 6-0.

Waverly took advantage of six walks from Newark Valley pitching to extend its lead to 13-0 after three innings.

After three consecutive walks loaded the bases, Cron stroked a two-run single to make it 8-0. Three more walks in a row pushed two runs across the plate, and Carpenter belted a three-RBI double to cap the rally.

Robinson added an RBI single in the fourth inning, and freshman Delaney Wheeler knocked in the final run of the game with an RBI groundout.

Robinson struck out seven and walked just one in five innings to earn the win.

Lauper stroked three singles, scored four runs, and had three RBI, Cron had three hits, three runs scored, and two RBI, and Carpenter doubled twice and had four RBI to pace Waverly at the plate, while Robinson doubled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in four runs.

Freshman Loralye Anthony and junior Faith Blauvelt each singled and scored one run in the win, while Wheeler singled and knocked in one run, Cooney scored a pair of runs, and junior Lea VanAllen sophomore Alayna Miller each scored one run.

Waverly returns to action Monday at Notre Dame.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly’s Olivia Robinson. … PHOTOS BY DAVID ALLIGER — TRAVELING PORTRAITS.