Softball Romps Again

Wawasee seems to have found its offensive stride as Northern Lakes Conference works through week one. After crushing Warsaw Monday night, Wawasee posted an 18-spot on Elkhart Memorial Thursday in hammering the host Chargers 18-8.

Allissa Flores and Paige Hlutke each homered and combined for six hits and seven RBIs as Wawasee crushed 17 hits in the five-inning game. Danielle Gunkel added three hits, three RBIs and four runs scored for the Lady Warriors, which took a 14-0 lead before Memorial plated five runs in the fourth inning. Wawasee opened the game with 11 runs in the first inning and added three in the third to take command.

Amber Lemberg didn’t have her finest outing, but earned the win despite allowing eight hits, six earned runs and striking out just one. Meghan Fretz struck out five of the six batters she faced in relief.

Wawasee (7-2, 2-0 NLC) will host NorthWood Friday night.

Chargers Command Baseball Win

Wawasee couldn’t fight off the big inning from Elkhart Memorial in a 5-1 varsity baseball loss in Syracuse.

Memorial plated three runs in the fourth inning, and single runs in the sixth and seventh inning were too much for the Warriors to overcome.

Gage Reinhard had Wawasee’s lone RBI in the sixth on a single. Will McCarthy doubled and Harrison Shortill had a pair of hits for the Warriors, which even up at 1-1 in the NLC and 6-2 overall.

Lucas Garza was the tough luck loser on the hill, working six innings of four run ball, walking three and fanning one.

Wawasee slugged its way to a 19-10 JV win over Memorial. Blaine Greer and Rylan Kuhn each had three hits to pace Wawasee, while Spencer Prescott and Jamie Slabaugh each had a double. Jacob Garcia threw five innings to earn the win, helping Wawasee to even its mark at 2-2 overall.

Both programs will visit NorthWood Friday afternoon as NLC play continues.

Squires Square Up Lady Warriors

Manchester proved more than formidable to Wawasee on the tennis courts Thursday afternoon in a 5-0 Squires win in North Manchester.

Wawasee’s closest call to victory came at two doubles, where Jazlyn Gehlhausen and Kabrea Rostochak went three sets before falling to Morgan McKee and Bethany Collett 1-6, 6-4, 0-6. Manchester’s one doubles team of Karly Eichenauer and Leigh Brandenburg swept Charity Parker and Ashley Larson love and love.

In singles play, Allison Smith held court at No. 1 with a 6-3, 6-0 run on Jada Antonides. Claire Barnett held off Nealy Thanasrivanitchai 6-2, 6-3 and Marret Metzger was solid in a 6-0, 6-2 win against Chelsea Carolus.

Manchester also swept all six JV courts. Taking singles wins for the Squires were Molly Woods, Lydia Little and Kendra Auler. Doubles winners were Kylie Hensley and Jordan Michel, Alyssa Spann and Elizabeth Anglin, and Lauren Metzger and Woods.

Wawasee (1-5, 0-2 NLC) will return to action Tuesday at Northridge.