Bussard pitches 1-hitter, beats error-prone NorthWood in sectional semis

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Malaynie Costello

Softball

Tippecanoe Valley 13, NorthWood 1 (5 innings, Tuesday): Dalynne Bussard pitched a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and she also had a hit and an RBI at the plate, and Kahlyn Manns had three hits and three RBIs for Valley in a win over NorthWood in a Class 3A, Sectional 20 semifinal at Fairfield Tuesday.

Freshman Malaynie Costello had two doubles and two RBIs, and Temperance Caudill had two singles and two RBIs. Mackaylie Costello had two hits and three RBIs. Elise Smith also had a hit.

The only run that Bussard allowed was unearned and scored on an error in the bottom of the third, cutting Valley’s lead to 4-1. After the error, Bussard retired the final eight NorthWood batters.

Meanwhile, the Lady Vikings then responded with five runs in the fourth. Naomi Gaerte started the inning with a walk. Pinch runner Kylie Cunningham would later score on an error, and another error on a Malaynie Costello bunt made it 6-1. 

Manns’ two-run double scored both Costello sisters, and after a pitching change, Bussard drove home Manns with a single.

Caudill’s two-run single highlighted a four-run fifth.

The only hit Bussard allowed was a double to Victoria Vega, the second batter of the game. Vega would advance to third on a dropped pop-up, but Bussard would strike out the next two batters to retire the side.

Already leading 1-0, Valley scored three times in the second. K.C. Shriver circled the bases when NorthWood committed two errors on her bunt. That also scored Caudill ahead of her, who led off with a single. Malaynie Costello’s two-out RBI double to center later in the inning made it 4-0.

Valley improved to 12-10 and will play Columbia City in the sectional final at 5:30 p.m. today. Columbia City (17-5) routed Fairfield 10-0 in five innings in the other semifinal.

Valley is seeking their second sectional title in three years and their third sectional title in school history.

The Valley-Columbia City winner will travel to John Glenn for the regional Tuesday. John Glenn defeated South Bend St. Joe 8-5 Wednesday in the Sectional 19 final.