Greenville shuts out Alter 19-0 in sectional championship softball game

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TIPP CITY – The Greenville Lady Wave looked – no – was unstoppable Tuesday afternoon when they defeated Alter in a dominating display of pitching and hitting.

A mild breeze blowing toward the outfield didn’t faze freshman pitcher Baylee Petry, who struck out two of the first three batters in the top of the first.

When the Lady Wave took their at bat, Cassie Cromwell singled, Makayla Hanes doubled, Alli Hill doubled, and just like that, Karsyn Shaffer, Cromwell and Hanes had all scored to give Greenville a 3-0 lead over Alter.

The second inning displayed more of Petry’s dazzling pitching. The pitch would drop, rise and once seemed to circle a bat for two more strikeouts. When Alter did get two hits – runners on first and third – Petry remained calm and struck out a batter to end the inning with zero runs allowed.

The third inning was massive for the Lady Wave, who scored a total of 11 runs on 12 hits, including a triple from Shaffer, a double from Sydney Grote, a double from Alli Hill, a double from Petry that resulted in three RBI and a rare bunt double from Lani Shilt that resulted in two RBI. By the end of the inning Alter was running out of steam and looking at a 14-0 hole.

The fourth inning was highlighted by a three-run homer by Grote.

Looking at a 19-0 lead, Caitlin Christman stepped in for Petry in the fifth and final inning and allowed only two hits and zero runs for the save.

Petry’s performance was poised, determined and calm while her pitching was surgical. Strike after strike, the Alter batters thought they nearly had her figured out, but they didn’t. The ball placement was perfect the entire game – low and outside, the bottom corner of the strike zone – where she made her home through four scoreless innings.

When Alter bats did connect with one of her pitches, the outfield and infield was quick to pounce, allowing only three hits total for Petry.

Don’t let the 19 runs scored take away from Petry’s performance on the mound. Had the game have been a defensive standstill, Petry would have been ready to lead this team to victory.

Petry pitched four total innings with three hits, no walks, no runs and seven strikeouts.

The batters, not some of them, but all of them did their part, putting up 23 hits and 19 runs.

Morgan Gilbert went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Shaffer went 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and one RBI. Cromwell went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Hanes went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI.

Grote went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and four RBI. Hill went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and three RBI. Petry went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one run scored and three RBI. Shilt had a double with one run scored and two RBI. And Courtney Bryson went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI.

Greenville not only looked like a championship team – they played like one as well, and play at 11 a.m. Saturday in Mason against Western Brown.

Greenville’s Baylee Petry pitches during an Ohio High School Athletic Association sectional championship softball game against Alter on Tuesday in Tippecanoe.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Baylee-Petry-WEB-1-3.jpgGreenville’s Baylee Petry pitches during an Ohio High School Athletic Association sectional championship softball game against Alter on Tuesday in Tippecanoe. Justin Chasteen | For The Daily Advocate

By Justin Chasteen

For The Daily Advocate

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