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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
AKRON — Kahlyn Manns had a pair of hits, including the go-ahead RBI triple in the fourth, and later scored on an error, and Mackaylie Costello and Dalynne Bussard combined on a three-hitter as the Tippecanoe Valley softball team eclipsed visiting Triton 6-2 Monday.
Bussard also had two hits and an RBI at the plate, and Anna Shock and Temperance Caudill each added an RBI.
Lena Doll had two hits and two RBIs at the plate, and she also struck out 10 in the circle for Triton. Mylie Groves walked twice and scored both runs.
Costello and Bussard combined to retire 13 consecutive batters to close out the game. Triton did not have a baserunner after Doll’s RBI bloop single in the third inning.
Costello got the win, and Bussard retired all six batters she faced – four strikeouts and two weak comebackers to the circle – for the save.
Valley improved to 1-2. The win was the first for coach Brian Barger in his second stint as coach after a 20-year layoff.
Triton dropped to 2-2.
Anna Shock led off the bottom of the fourth by reaching second on an error on the third baseman. Manns, Valley’s sophomore center fielder and leadoff hitter, then scorched a triple into the right-center field gap to score Shock.
The cutoff throw to try and get Manns at third was wild for an error, and Manns raced in from third to make it 4-2.
“That was big,” Barger said. “We have to execute and make things happen. And that was a big-time hit. … She’s come a long way. She played mostly JV last year. She got some spot varsity time, and she’s filled that leadoff spot really well.”
Manns said she has worked “a lot” on her game since last year. Only Bussard and Shock were in the lineup both Monday and in the regional game against New Prairie last May.
“I like it,” Manns said when asked about hitting leadoff. “It makes me feel better not hitting last, I don’t know. … I just worked on everything.”
Two batters later, Costello walked and went to second when Bussard reached on an error on the second baseman. Doll then walked Kaitlyn Threlkel to load the bases, and Caudill drove in Costello with a squeeze bunt.
Costello stole third and scored when the throw from the catcher sailed down the left field line for an error in the sixth.
Valley’s other runs came on Bussard’s RBI double in the first and Elise Smith hustling home from second on Shock’s RBI infield single in the second.
Manns later singled to move Shock from first to third, and Manns stole second, but Doll recovered to strike out K.C. Shriver looking to end the inning.
“It’s a lot different,” Manns said of this year’s team in comparison to last year’s team. “But I mean, we’re all still learning. We’re doing good, I think.”
Meanwhile, Valley committed no errors defensively.
“That was the key is trying to find the right fit for each girl where they’re going to be strong,” Barger said of the process of finding positions for players. “A lot of girls are playing positions that they didn’t play last year. It’s finding what’s going to help the team in the long run.”
Barger said he gave up coaching 20 years ago for family reasons. In addition to being the head coach at Valley, he had also been an assistant coach on teams at Warsaw and Wawasee, both of which made semistate while he was there.
He also has umpired softball games for 35 years and is also a licensed basketball referee.
“It was a difficult situation,” Barger said of leaving the job 20 years ago. “But I’m glad that Sam (Sturtevant, Valley athletic director) offered me the job back, and I’m glad I’m here. It’s always been a good family here.”
Valley 6, Triton 2
Triton 101 000 0 – 2 3 6
Valley 110 301 X – 6 7 0
WP – Mackaylie Costello (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
LP – Lena Doll (6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 10 K)
2B – Dalynne Bussard (TV)
3B – Kahlyn Manns (TV)
