WAYNE – Following a five-day period of no competition, the Dirt Devil 16/18 & under softball team was back in action with a home doubleheader.
From the Summer Sports Complex, Wayne entertained Yankton Fury Red 16U Tuesday evening. The combined 16/18 Dirt Devil softball team won by a run, 12-11 in the opening game while holding winning a low scoring nightcap of 3-1. Wayne enters the Class C State Softball Tournament in Hastings with a 12-7 record.
In the opening game, the Dirt Devils took the 3-0 lead after the first inning before Yankton answered with a five-run top of the third. Wayne regained the lead with three runs in the home half of the third before both teams scored six runs in the fourth. The Dirt Devil 16/18s held on for the 12-11 victory.
Rachel Hobbs recorded two singles, five RBI and two runs scored while Hope O’Reilly singled twice, drove in two runs and scored twice for Wayne. Kendall Dorey singled three times; Mikaela McManigal singled twice and drove in a run; Taytum Sweetland singled and scored three times; Hailey Schroeder singled and drove in a run; Kylen Robbins singled and scored; Jamie Janke scored three times; Logan Miller added a RBI as Brooklyn Kruse accounted for a run scored.
Dorey picked up the complete game win in four innings allowing 11 runs (five earned) off six hits while striking out six batters and walking four.
Game One:
1 2 3 4 R H E
0 0 5 6 11 6 4 – Yankton
3 0 3 6 12 12 3 – Wayne
From the nightcap, Wayne scored a run in the first and two more in the fourth to lead 3-0. Yankton tabbed one run in the home half of the fifth as the Dirt Devil 16/18s held on for the 3-1 win.
McManigal doubled and drove in two runs while Sweetland and Dorey both singled twice and scored for Wayne. O’Reilly singled, drove in a run and scored as Hobbs singled.
Hobbs picked up the complete game victory in seven innings allowing one run off six hits while striking out three batters.
Game Two:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 7 5 – Wayne
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 2 – Yankton
The Dirt Devil 16/18s will next compete in the Class C state tournament on Friday, July 24 in Hastings. Wayne receives a bye and will face the winner of either Creighton Thunder or Columbus Bullets at 4:30 p.m. Friday. A win Friday late afternoon would put them in a 3 p.m. game time Saturday against the winner of either Lawrence or Bow Spirit 18s White otherwise a loss would mean a Saturday 8 a.m. first pitch against the loser of either Nebraska Krush 16U (Parr) or Blue Springs Lightning.