Caudill’s go-ahead hit, Bussard’s 500th K highlight Valley’s win over Bremen

Manns also has 3 hits, Gonzalez adds crucial 2-run single 

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Dalynne Bussard

AKRON — Tippecanoe Valley senior softball player Dalynne Bussard achieved a milestone that she had no idea she was on the verge of achieving.

Then again, all that matters now for Bussard is winning, and that was the reason for her smile following the Lady Vikings’ 8-2 win over visiting Bremen Thursday.

The game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, but Valley scored six times, all with two outs. Temperance Caudill went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, including the go-ahead two-run single in the fifth.

Kahlyn Manns also had three hits for Valley (4-0), playing just their second game of a soggy April.

The bottom three hitters in Valley’s order – Caudill, Gaby Gonzalez and Makenzey Morton – went a combined 5 for 8 with six RBIs and three runs scored. KC Shriver, Malaynie Costello and Kaitlyn Threlkel had one hit each, and Shriver also had an RBI.

"We're still early in the season trying to work out the kinks,” Valley coach Brian Barger said. “Playing one-and-a-half games since spring break, we’re still shaking the sand out of our shoes. But all in all, it was off to a slow start. So we knew coming in that their pitching’s not the strongest, but I just told them we’ve got to put the ball in play and make things happen.”

Bussard had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a bloop single in the fifth.

But it was in the circle where she distinguished herself. Bussard pitched a seven-hitter with one walk, one hit batter and 11 strikeouts. She came in with 496 career strikeouts and got No. 500 when whiffed Peyton Johnson to start the second.

Bussard’s strikeout feats continuously break her own school record, which she topped as a sophomore. She has more strikeouts than the pitchers with the second and third most strikeouts combined.

Now she would like to win another sectional title to join the one she won in 2023 as a freshman.

“I think it means something to me,” Bussard said. “I’ve worked my whole life for this. I started pitching when I was 8, 9. And now I’m going to college next year. I just turned 18. It’s a big accomplishment of mine, but also, even if I didn’t get this or even if I had 100 strikeouts, I just want to win. Whatever it takes to help my team win.”

With the game tied 2-2 and one out in the fifth, Manns socked a double over the left fielder’s head. She went to third on Bussard’s bloop single. Bremen pitcher Eliana Grubbs hit Threlkel with a pitch to load the bases but fanned Minda Shriver for the third time.

Caudill then hit a hot grounder into the hole on the left side to score Manns and Bussard, and when the throw home to try and get Bussard was wild for an error, Threlkel moved to third and Caudill to second.

“It was kind of stressful,” Caudill said of her clutch hit. “Even though I’m an upperclassman this year, it’s been really stressful trying to get that bat going again and getting started, but honestly, it was an instant relief to be able to get that hit and support my team.”

Caudill hit .259 as a freshman and .213 as a sophomore, but she is hitting .600 with five RBIs in 15 at-bats so far as a junior. Her improved hitting has come while sophomore Naomi Gaerte is out with a right knee injury suffered in the season opener against Wawasee.

“My fellow junior Kaitlyn and I, I feel like we’ve definitely stepped up a lot this season,” Caudill said. “Making those hits for our team and producing those runs, we’ve both stepped up a lot, I feel. It took a little bit longer for me, but Kaitlyn definitely started hot right out of the gate.”

Gonzalez then lined a single off second baseman Madi Milleman’s glove and into shallow right field. Kylie Cunningham, in as a courtesy runner for catcher Threlkel, scored, and when the right fielder’s throw to try and get Gonzalez was well late, Caudill also scored.

Morton then clobbered a double to deep right to deliver Gonzalez, and when the throw to try and get Gonzalez at the plate was late, Morton advanced to third.

KC Shriver’s RBI bloop single made it 8-2.

Bremen had runners at second and third with nobody out in the sixth, but Bussard got Karla Arias to ground to third with the runners holding. She then struck out Makenzie Shumaker and Aubri O’Keefe to get out of the mess.

Barger said that Bussard is more worried about her hitting at the moment.

“She had no clue,” Barger said of Bussard’s career strikeout total. “I knew going into the game what she needed to get there, but she’s more worried about plate appearances now. Because the last two games, she’s struggled at the plate, not making good, solid contact. But I said I know it will come around because that kid works seven days a week.”

Tippecanoe Valley 8, Bremen 2

Bremen 010 010 0 – 2 7 1

Valley 100 160 X – 8 6 1

WP – Dalynne Bussard (7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 11 K)

LP – Eliana Grubbs (6 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K)

2B – Eliana Grubbs 2 (BRE), Peyton Reed (BRE)