OGDEN — In two games during the regular season against Ogden the Woodward-Granger softball team found themselves served losses of 11-0 and 18-1.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Determined there would be no repeat, the 4-30 Hawks put a scare into the 22-7 Bulldogs before falling, 3-1, in their Class 2A Region 4 Quarterfinal Tuesday.
Trailing 3-0, the Hawks opened the top of the seventh with a triple from Maddi Danti. Kaycee Major bunted, but Danti held her position, and when no one covered second base, Major raced to the bag. A walk to Natalie Weaver loaded the bases with no outs and suddenly the risk of an upset seemed all too real for the hosts.
Alissa Smeltzer singled home Danti, but the Bulldogs came up with a big defensive play as Major was thrown out at the plate. Two Hawks were still on base, but a ground out and a strikeout ended the drama.
Elly Polich had one of her best outings in the ring, allowing three runs — only one earned — on just five hits and two walks while striking out four.
An hit and an error allowed Meredith Adreon to score in the bottom of the third for Ogden, with Denali Loecker smacking a solo home run — her 15th blast of the season — for a 2-0 Bulldog lead.
The margin went to 3-0 in the sixth when Ashton Boggess singled and took an extra base on an outfield miscue. She eventually scored on a wild pitch.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Loecker allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six.
Katelyn Bandstra had two singles, with Danti’s triple and singles from Major and Smeltzer the W-G hits. Danti and Weaver each drew a walk.
The loss ends the careers of W-G seniors Alexis Bidler and Major, who played five seasons and started for many years at different positions. She departs with 105 hits, including 20 doubles, two triples and nine career home runs. Major drove in 58 runs, scored 65 times and was part of teams that combined for 75 victories.
