Goshen catcher Devin Shipley puts on the tag to Wawasee’s Autumn Conners during the JV game Friday evening. The two teams each wore pink tops and socks in unity during the Strike Out Cancer game at Shanklin Park. Proceeds from the JV and varsity games were donated to Elkhart County cancer charities. (Photo by Mike Deak)

Softball

A two-out double by Ava Rush in the ninth inning sent Wawasee to a thrilling 4-3 win at Goshen Friday night.

Aubrey Kuhn drew a two-out walk and came around to score on Rush’s rocket to center for the go-ahead run.

Wawasee had to rally to force extra innings, scoring a run in the seventh to tie the game at three. Faith Swihart doubled, stole third and came in to score on an error.

Graceanne Kerlin gave Wawasee a 2-0 lead with a double in the sixth. Goshen rallied with a walk and four hits to get three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Kerlin finished with three hits in the game, Wawasee ending with eight in all. Bethany Flannery picked up the win, holding Goshen scoreless in her 3.2 innings of relief. Kiaundra Olson worked into the sixth, striking out three.

Goshen pulled out the JV contest with a 13-9 result. Wawasee (4-4) had plenty of offensive contributors, led by Olivia Stuck’s three singles and three RBIs. Katie Flannery had two hits and an RBI and Casey Drake added a double for the Lady Warriors.

The JV and varsity games were played in conjunction with Goshen as part of the Strike Out Cancer Series, the teams partnering up to raise money and awareness for cancer research and relief. Teams sold shirts and cookies, had a fundraiser and had several community-oriented activities attached to the games. Both teams wore the same shirts in unification, the funds raised this year going to Elkhart County cancer care charities. The series will shift to Wawasee next year, its proceeds will go to Kosciusko County cancer charities.

“We started this last year as not only a way to give back, but to have these kids understand that there is more to life than just softball, it’s bigger than just us,” said Wawasee head coach Mike Barger. “We all want to give back. It’s the little things that can become big things. Brent (Kulp, Goshen head coach) and I are friends and we want to keep this thing going each year. This is a really good thing we’ve got going.”

Wawasee’s varsity and JV games Saturday at East Noble have been cancelled due to projected low temperatures in the morning. The games will not be made up. Wawasee (5-7, 2-3 NLC) will host NLC leader Concord on Monday.

Girls Tennis

Wawasee head coach Shane Staley had Friday circled on his calendar, hoping to get one on his alma mater. Manchester had other ideas.

The Lady Squires got past the Lady Warriors for a 4-1 win, winning all its courts in straight sets at Wawasee.

Wawasee put up a fight in three of its courts, the lone lopsided matchup was a love and love win for Halle Bruner at No. 2 singles over Elizabeth Kleopfer. Kelsey Eichenauer would put away Kendra Doerr at No. 1 singles four and two. Lydia Little made the singles sweep with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Kennedy Church.

Manchester also claimed a No. 2 doubles win with Rebekah Pyle and Anna Osborne also winning 6-4, 7-5 over Kaitlin Garner and Molly Jones.

Wawasee’s lone win of the day came at No. 1 doubles, a four and one win by Kabrea Rostochak and Brianna Haessig over Eva Bazzoni and Kendra Auler.

Manchester came out on the heavy side in the JV contests, going 4-3 against Wawasee. Tate Cowan got a singles win, beating Cora Burnett 8-5. Abby Morehead was part of both doubles wins for the Lady Warriors, teaming with Abby Sommers to win 8-3 and pairing with Ava Harker to win 8-0.

Wawasee (3-6) will get right back to work Monday at West Noble.

Baseball

Wawasee couldn’t make an early lead hold up in a 5-3 loss at home to Goshen.

An error and a Jairus Boyer RBI single had the Warriors up 2-0 in the first inning, but that was cut in half in the second and then gone in the third when Phil Wertz tied the game on a fielder’s choice.

Reece Fisher had the big blow in the sixth, a two-run triple that gave Goshen a 4-2 lead. Wertz would add his second RBI of the day on a single a batter later for a 5-2 lead. Wawasee got one back on an RBI from Parker Young, but could not get any closer.

Joey Peebles would close out his complete game for the RedHawks, finishing with 10 strikeouts and six hits allowed. Jacob Garcia took the loss in relief, giving up three runs in 4.1 innings of work. Tony Garcia started the game for the Warriors, working into the third, allowing just one hit but walking five.

Goshen claimed the JV game by a 17-6 count.

Wawasee (6-6, 2-3 NLC) will visit Concord on Monday.

Unified Track

The unified track meet for Friday was cancelled and will not be made up. Wawasee Unified is set to compete next Friday at Goshen.