Prep softball: Warriors score 12 in third in win over Seward

May 25, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Good things come to those who wait.

Wasilla fell behind 9-0 after two innings before using a 12-run third inning to post an impressive come-from-behind victory over the visiting Seward Seahawks at the Bumpus Softball Complex in Wasilla.

&#8220We had a lot of runs to make up,” Wasilla coach Sue Allen said after the Warriors' 16-9 win over the Seahawks.

Indeed.

Allen said she was experimenting with different lineups early in the game, including at pitcher.

The Warriors used three different pitchers in the first three innings, none of whom was particularly effective. But after the first two Seward batters reached base on walks, Allen finally decided it was time to get serious.

Enter Anne Wesser.

Wasilla's senior flame-thrower retired the next three hitters via strikeout to stem the Seward tide and give the Warriors a bit of confidence.

That surge of energy carried over to the offensive side of things, as the first 12 hitters to come to the plate in the bottom of the third eventually came around to score.

Allen said she was proud of the way her team was able to dig its way out of the early deficit, and believes the difficult victory will help the Warriors later in the season.

&#8220I think the way they came back is going to help us out,” Allen said.

Wasilla's big inning was keyed by a number of big hits, including seven consecutive singles by Jessica Carter, Jordan Elkins, Ashley Enderson, Mary Russell, Christina Aubrey, Wesser and Taylor Teeling.

Later in the inning, Carter and Elkins again came up big, hitting back-to-back inside-the-park home runs for the Warriors' final runs of the inning.

Allen said the big inning will help her team build confidence at the plate. Because of Wesser's dominance on the mound, Allen said her team's offense has often lagged behind.

&#8220That's what they've been lacking is offensive confidence,” Allen said.

Once the Warriors took the lead Thursday, there was really little doubt as to who would win. Wesser simply overpowered Seward's lineup, striking out seven of the nine batters she faced.

Only two Seward hitters managed to put the ball in play, and both were retired easily as the Wasilla pitcher hurled a perfect three innings to secure the victory.

Wasilla could afford to play a different lineup early in the game because Thursday's contest was not a conference game. That won't be true tonight, as the Warriors take on West Valley at 6 p.m. at Bumpus.

With the Railbelt Conference's four bids to the state tournament still up in the air, Allen said Wasilla needs to use the Seward game to build momentum heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

&#8220A lot is going to depend on the last two or three games,” she said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com