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Whittell softball sweeps Virginia City, secures playoff berth

Anthony Gentile
agentile@tahoedailytribune.com

VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. — For the second straight season, the Whittell softball team had its postseason fate decided by a doubleheader against Virginia City — and this time, the Warriors delivered. Whittell swept the Muckers 19-7 and 18-4 on Thursday afternoon, wins that locked up a playoff spot after a one-year absence.

Whittell (15-7, 10-4 IV Northern) needed to split with the Muckers on the road to lock up a spot in the Div. IV Northern League tournament, and completed the task with a 19-7 win in the first game of the doubleheader. The Warriors produced three big innings to beat Virginia City (12-10, 7-7) in a six-inning contest.

The Warriors opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, but Virginia City answered with three runs in the bottom half to make it 3-1. Whittell trailed by that margin headed into the top of the third, when it scored seven runs to break the game open — the Warriors then scored five in the fifth and six in the sixth to put the Muckers away.



Whittell did its scoring on 13 hits in the first game led by Kelsey Kjer’s game-high three hits. The junior finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs.

Five Warriors collected multiple hits in the playoff-clinching win. Jordyn Becker finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs, Dominique Ogilvie went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs, Eva Fuller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs and Madison Idso finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run.



Idso (W, 4-1) started and threw 4.0 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Kjer scattered three hits over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and walking two.

In the second game of the twinbill, Whittell completed the sweep with an 18-4 win. The Warriors scored 14 unanswered runs over the last four innings to break a 4-4 tie and roll to victory.

Whittell and Virginia City traded a pair of runs in the first and third innings, and the Warriors slowly built a six-run lead over the next three frames. In the top of the seventh, Whittell scored eight runs to win in convincing fashion.

As a team, Whittell finished with six extra-base hits in the win — Becker and Kjer led the Warriors with three hits apiece. Becker went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs while Kjer finished 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and three runs.

Fuller was 2-for-5 with four RBIs and a run in the win and Ali opsy went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs. Idso had a hit, two RBIs and a run and Daria Sharon added a hit, an RBI and four runs.

Kjer (W, 11-6) threw a 111-pitch complete game in the victory. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out three and walking five.

With the wins, Whittell will finish third in the final Div. IV Northern League standings. The Warriors will play second-seeded Eureka in the first round of the double-elimination league tournament next Friday at Wells — the Vandals swept a doubleheader between the teams earlier this season by scores of 2-0 and 2-1.

The Warriors conclude the regular season Tuesday against crosstown rival South Tahoe at Zephyr Cove Park. First pitch in the nonleague game is scheduled for 3 p.m.


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