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Wait is over for Whittell softball team

Staff report

The long-delayed season opener turned out just fine for the Whittell High softball team on Tuesday.

Whittell was supposed to open its season March 10 in the Yerington tournament, but a shortage of players and snow caused Whittell to miss out on nine potential games.

Finally taking the field on Tuesday, the Warriors overcame a 5-0 first-inning lead by Virginia City to post a 27-17 nonleague victory at Lampe Park in Gardnerville.



“They definitely had the first-game jitters and made mistakes they never made before, but in the second inning when they got more comfortable with their pitching and defense, they did fine,” said Izzy Luna, who won her high school head coaching debut.

Whittell forced three Virginia City pitching changes in the second frame while scoring 21 runs.



“It was pretty long, but the girls stayed focused and were having a good time,” Luna said. “They stayed aggressive on the bases and kept an eye out for good pitches to hit.”

Whittell’s offensive attack included 17 hits, 19 walks and nine stolen bases. Sophomore Abby Kingman was 4 for 6 with four runs scored; junior Megan Esquivel was 3 for 3 with a double and four runs; and first-time player Manuela Keller, a sophomore, was 3 for 4 with three singles and two stolen bases.

Sophomore Austyn Harrington pitched three innings to earn the victory. She struck out one and gave up four hits and three earned runs. Virginia City scored seven runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth to nearly avoid the 10-run rule, but the Warriors scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to put away the Muckers.

Harrington and Tara Humbird also swiped two bases.

Whittell (1-0) plays at Smith Valley on Thursday.


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