Wakefield 18's go 2-2 at state tourney
The Wakefield 18 and under softball team traveled to Hastings for the Class D Nebraska State Championships over this past weekend and came away with a 2-2 record in the festivities.
"We played great at times and not so great at times," Wakefield softball coach, Mike Mogus said. "But we never quit, ever."
In the opening game, Wakefield won 8-7 after scoring four runs in the fifth inning against the Mad Dawgs.
The Mad Dawgs would score three in the sixth and two in the seventh to cut the lead to 8-7 against Wakefield pitcher, Alex Arenas.
But Wakefield scored four runs in the bottom-half of the fifth as Brianne Bousquet opened with a single and scored, Arenas helped her cause with a single and scored, Maddie Mogue singled and scored then Aishah Valenzuela drew a walk and scored after a base hit from Kenzie Arenas cleared the bases heading into the sixth, making the advantage 8-2 before the Mad Dawg comeback in the sixth and seventh.
After Alex Arenas cruised along during the game pitching, Mogus turned to Valenzuela to come on in the circle in the seventh and she provided a third-out strikeout with runners on second and third.
"You expect these kinds of games at state," Mogus said. "I'm glad we took care of business and made it through the opening game against a very good opponent."
The second game in the tournament saw Wakefield come up against Bruning-Davenport-Shickley.
In an extra-inning contest, Wakefield fell 3-2 in a well-played, well-pitched game.
"It went extra innings but it went very fast," Mogus said. "We had great pitching and played great defense, just came up a little short."
Wakefield scored a run in the top of the eighth from Laken Rahn to go in front 2-1, but BDS plated two in the bottom of the frame to walk off with the win.
"It was a great game," Mogus said.
Mogus also mentioned, Megan Meyer made a great effort to get to Hastings in time for the game.
"She was involved in 4-H and needed to show an animal in the morning," Mogus said. "We had a rain delay and she made it back in time to play for the game - and made a great catch in the outfield to keep us close."
Against Oakland, Wakefield won in another pitching performance which it won, 5-4.
Valenzuela finished the tournament in the circle and led Wakefield to the win.
Oakland grabbed a pair of runs in the opening inning and another in the second.
Wakefield scored one in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to tie the score.
Natalee Overfelt scored in the second, Maddie Mogus in the third and Anna Lundahl and Meyrs scored in the fourth.
In the fourth was all with two outs.
In the fifth, a double by Mogus opened the frame and she was chased home by another double from Valenzuela, who was eventually thrown out from the Oakland shortstop at second base - but the damage was already done.
Wakefield came away with the 5-4 victory.
In the fourth, and what would be the final game for the Wakefield 18's, they fell to the 16 and under team from Ponca 14-3.
Ironically, Ponca's 16's went on to win the title over the Ponca 18 and under team.
"Their (Ponca's) 16's got on a roll and came all the way through the consolation bracket to win twice over their 18's in the finals," Mogus said. "Hats off to them, they played great."
Wakefield saw first-hand just how good they were playing as the Ponca 16's opened the game with seven straight singles in the opening frame while scoring its first seven batters on the way to the 14-3 final.
Bousquet and Maddie Mogus tried to even the game in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs, Bousquet would score again in the third and Rahn would score in the fifth, but it was too little too late.
"It wasn't the way any of us wanted to finish the season," Mike Mogus said. "We accomplished a lot, learned a lot and had a lot of fun - that's what it is all about."
More pictures from the tournament can be found on the Republicans facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wakef...