Lady Wave now at 22-3
Wild night produces wild Wave win
By George Starks

GREENVILLE- It may go down as one of the wildest games in the history of Lady Wave softball. It will definitely be one Greenville coach Jerrod Newland will never forget. It is no secret that Northmont-Greenville games have been barn burners in the past.

With the exception of a three run loss by the Wave in Newland’s first year at the helm, the last eight games played between the two teams have been one run affairs.

Thursday was no different.

Falling behind 3-0 early to Northmont Thursday, Greenville put nine runs on the board in the fifth and was forced to win it in the bottom of the seventh. Down one heading into the seventh, it was an error that allowed the winning runs to score.

In a game that featured three errors by the GWOC North champions Greenville and five miscues by GWOC Central champions Northmont, it was the Wave that got two runs in the seventh to pull out a tough 11-10 victory over the Thunderbolts.

“Tonight, it was two good teams teeing it up,” said Newland. “They jumped out with four and we countered with nine. They took the lead and we got it back when it counted. It was a crazy way to win a game.”

In 12 years as head coach, Newland has often said, “when you put the ball into play, good things will happen.”

That is a statement that rolled both ways Thursday as that philosophy almost worked against the Wave. After falling behind 3-0 through four innings of play, the Wave had their backs against the wall.

Unable to get anything going on offense, it seemed like Newland’s crew was going to fall for the fourth time this season. Then came the bottom of the fifth and it all broke loose for Greenville.

Wave senior, Karlee Lennon, got the frame started with a lead-off walk. Pitcher Ali Russell reached on an error by the Bolts second baseman and the Wave had a legitimate threat underway. Senior Brionna Greer put down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed, loading the bases for Allison Minnich. Minnich promptly singled, scoring Lennon and the Wave had finally dented the plate. Senior Haleigh doubled in two more, getting Greenville even on the scoreboard, 3-3.

After catcher Jasmine Petry bunted her way on, Greenville took the lead on a run scoring single from Alli Hill. By the end of the frame, Greenville had sent 14 hitters to the dish, scoring nine times and taking what looked to be an overwhelming, 9-3 lead with two innings left to play. In that nine run inning, Greenville picked up only four hits while the rock solid Northmont defense booted the ball four times.

“We put the ball in play on the ground a we were forcing the action. If you put the ball in the air, people catch it,” Newland stated. “When you hit the ball sharply on the ground, the ball acts in weird ways and good things happens. That was the case both ways today.”

If what’s good for the goose is good for the gander is the truth, then what was to come would only prove to be fitting.

After Northmont put a single run on the board in the sixth, the Bolts put a five spot on the board in the seventh, highlighted by sharply hit ground balls and two huge Wave errors, giving the Bolts a 10-9 advantages heading into the seventh.

“Northmont did not roll over tonight,” said Newland. “Two GWOC Champions going head to head and two perennial powers having at it, anything can happen. I never would have drawn it up like this and if you would have told me it would be a game of this nature, I’m not sure what I would have responded with. This was just crazy.”

Ashton Kester led things off with a single to center, followed by a single from Lennon. A walk was issued to Russell, loading the bases for what would be the final play of the night.

After Greer grounded out to second for the second out of the inning, Minnich stepped to the plate. Minnich ripped a shot to third that was booted, allowing Lennon and Russell to score the final runs of the game.

The win put Greenville at 22-3 on the year while Northmont dropped to 19-6 overall.

The Wave will play two today against Milton Union starting at 11 am at Stebbins Field.