Top-ranked Mead softball walks off No. 6 Silver Creek in the 11th inning
There’s nothing like an 11-inning pitcher’s duel to set the tone for softball games for the rest of the season.
That’s what fans were treated to as Class 4A No. 1 Mead and No. 6 Silver Creek went toe to toe in one of the most thrilling games of the relatively young season. Down to their last out, it was the Mavericks (7-0 overall, 1-0 4A NCAA) getting the walk-off win in the 11th inning.
The teams matched each other run for run in the first and third innings but the game was mostly dominated by stellar pitching on both sides.
Silver Creek (2-4, 0-3) senior Maddie Kuehl gave up 14 hits, but limited to the Mavericks to just two earned runs the entire game. She struck out 12 hitters and put just one on base with a walk. It was hard for Mead sophomore Joslynn Veltien to be better, but she was able to do by the slimmest of margins. She struck out 15 hitters and allowed just 11 hits. All three runs the Raptors scored were earned.
Maddox Boston was the offensive key for the Mavericks, going 2-for-5 at the plate and crossing home twice. Veronica Elsis, Tayler Brown and Emily Sauvageau all drove in runs for Mead.
Sophomore Isabelle Martinez and junior Ashley Gaccetta did their best to solve Veltien’s work in the circle. Martinez was 3-for-5 and scored and run while Gaccetta went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI’s.
The two teams will meet exactly one month after this class showdown as they will face each other in their regular season finales on Oct. 1.
