WAYNE – Ahead of a weekend tournament in Hastings, the Wayne High softball team was back on their home diamond for the first time and last time (regular season) since last Tuesday, September 15.
From the Wayne Softball Complex, WHS welcomed in the co-op team of Wisner-Pilger, BRLD and Pender called the NEN Vipers.
NEN began with a two-run first inning before Wayne High took control in the third outscoring the Vipers 4-1 to lead by a run. Following a pair of scoreless innings, NEN knotted the game back up at four all with a run in the sixth and then took the lead in the seventh with another. WHS closed out the game in walk-off fashion with two runs in the home half to win 6-5. Wayne High finished their home season 6-1 as they’re now 15-2 while NEN fell to 14-4 overall.
Virginia Kniesche finished with a multi-hit night, driving in a run and scoring once while Kendall Dorey posted a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored for Wayne. Taytum Sweetland recorded a double and RBI; Brooklyn Kruse singled, drove in a run and scored; Hope O’Reilly (walk-off hit) drove in the winning run as Hailey Schroeder scored twice.
Dorey picked up the complete game win in seven innings allowing five earned runs off 10 hits while striking out eight batters and walking three.
Wayne vs. NEN:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
2 0 1 0 0 1 1 5 10 0 – NEN
0 0 4 0 0 0 2 6 6 1 – Wayne
The Wayne High softball team will next compete in the Adams Central Invite this Saturday, September 26. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students.
WHS will open with Polk County at 10 a.m. with the winner/loser to face either Hastings St. Cecilia or Cozad while the other half of the bracket will feature Kearney Catholic vs. Ord and Adams Central vs. Gering. The second game will be played around 11:30 a.m. with the final game scheduled for 1 p.m.