By Adam Knoll
Sports correspondent
The weather was cool and wet last week during a back to back with McFarland, and the Whippets Softball team mirrored the elements, losing 11-0, and then 11-1 the next afternoon.
In Wednesday’s affair, the Whippets went to the plate aggressively, trying to punch holes in the McFarland defense and get runners on with a chance to score. Unfortunately, those opportunities never arose as Whitewater only managed three hits on the night.
Michaela Shumacher, the usual Whippet pitcher, had another tough outing, giving up 11 runs, 8 of them earned and walking three. After her outing, her era rose to 14.00. The defense had another tough night as well, adding 3 errors to their season total of 13.
“We went to the plate swinging and had a much better night making contact with the ball,” said head coach Dan Dowden after the game. “Unfortunately that did not translate into any runs.”
Lauren Lohiff raised her batting average to .444 with a single during the game.
Same tune next night
After hosting McFarland, the Whippets turned around and went on the road the following night. The type of game played was much different than the night before.
“It was a completely different game,” coach Dowden explained, “although the final outcome mirrored last night.”
Through five innings, the score was 5-1 McFarland and the Whippets were holding tough. Michaela Shumacher was having a much better game, only allowing 3 earned runs and the offense was getting runners on base. It all culminated into a bases-loaded, no outs opportunity for the Whippets in which not a single runner crossed the plate.
Lauren Lohiff led off with a single, and Sally Hixon reached on an error. Schumacher, an able hitter, was then hit with a pitch to load the bases. With a golden opportunity to at least put pressure on McFarland was missed as two fly balls and a ground out killed any chance of a rally.
In the 6th, McFarland opened up the offense, and finished off the Whippets as good teams should. Overall, Schumacher gave up another 8 earned runs on the night, 11 in total.
“Michaela pitched a heck of a game for us, but I think got tired in the 6th. I should have brought in Izzy with a fresh arm, but hind sight is 20-20,” explained coach Dowden after the game.
On the season, the Whippets have let 17 runners score due to errors, good for over 3 a game. The three scoreless innings the Whippets had in this game is the longest such stretch of the season. Whitewater is giving up 8.6 runs a game on average. The team has scored 9 runs, total, this season.
Through it all though, coach Dowden does not see any quit in his girls.
“I was proud of our girls they way they went to the plate looking to hit the ball. I did not feel we ever gave up. Windy cool weather and all, we just kept fighting. We just need to keep working and eventually the wins will come,” Dowden said.
It may be too soon to start worrying if the team can get it turned around for a small run at regionals. At present the Whippets are 1-4 in conference. Instead, the team is looking to focus on the little things, the things that coach Dowden hopes are the stepping stones required to become a force in the conference.
