2022 Delaware County softball tournament: Wes-Del, Yorktown advance to semifinals

GASTON, Ind. — Following Tuesday's weather postponement, there wasn't much drama in the first round of the 2022 Delaware County softball tournament at Wes-Del High School on Wednesday.

Cowan and Wapahani drew first-round byes, so the other four county schools played in two games that each ended in five innings via run rule. Wes-Del got off to a hot start against Daleville in Game 1, winning 18-1, and SCAI Class 3A No. 3 Yorktown shut out rival Delta 12-0 in Game 2.

The four remaining teams will reconvene for the semifinals at Wes-Del on Saturday, May 7, with the Warriors (9-6) set to play Wapahani (7-7) at 10 a.m., followed by Yorktown (11-1) v. Cowan (8-4) at approximately noon. The winners will compete in the championship game at 3 p.m.

Here's a recap of Wednesday's first round games:

First round: Wes-Del 18, Daleville 1

Although the Broncos entered the first round having won two of their last three games, it was immediately clear they're still rebuilding from a late start to the season. After allowing a leadoff triple to Daleville freshman Emily Simmons, Wes-Del dominated.

The Warriors led 17-0 through two innings, which caused head coach Andy Swift to give his bench playing time. Senior Heidi Gillam led the offense with two home runs and five RBI's, and senior Kenzie Stark also went yard and tallied a double for three RBI's. Senior Alleigh Swift added three hits (one triple) and three RBI's as well.

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Wes-Del's hot bats continued a rough start to the season for Daleville senior pitcher Paige Petty. After allowing 13 hits and 14 earned runs in two innings, her ERA on the year ballooned to 22.00. Simmons relieved her for the final six outs, allowing two hits and one earned run.

Stark allowed just two hits with eight strikeouts in three innings, and freshman Devyn Jaycox threw a hitless final two innings with one walk and four K's. Simmons led Daleville's offense with two hits, a walk and two stolen bases, but freshman Vayln Pattengale scored the Broncos' lone run after being hit by a pitch, stealing a base and then scoring on a passed ball.

Although the game was all but won after the second inning, Wes-Del head coach Andy Swift wanted to see his players continue limiting walks and errors. He said both have cost the Warriors winnable games previously this season, and they'll need to be sharp on Saturday in their rematch with Wapahani.

Wes-Del's first contest against the Raiders proved Swift's point. His team committed seven errors, five of them, as well as two walks, in Wapahani's seven-run sixth inning that secured its 14-9 victory.

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The Warriors average 10.7 runs per game, so hitting is the team's strength. Wapahani scores 8.5 runs per game and advanced to the county championship last year, but both teams are statistically similar. Saturday's victor likely will be the squad that makes the fewest mistakes.

It should be a competitive contest.

"I definitely think we've been playing a lot better in the last five, six, seven games as far as not walking people and fielding the ball," Swift said.

First round: Yorktown 12, Delta 0

There's a reason Yorktown is ranked 10th in the state, according to MaxPreps, and why the team on Saturday will look to win its fourth county title in five years. The Tigers currently sport the area's top-2 pitchers, senior Alanah Jones (0.33 ERA, 7-1) and sophomore Caitlin LaFerney (0.30 ERA, 3-0), as well as a deep and balanced lineup headlined by sophomore Lizzy Willis (2.039 OPS, 15 RBI's) and senior Macie Dowd (1.517 OPS, 16 RBI's).

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That talent was on full display against Delta, resulting in Yorktown's fourth shutout of the year. The game was similar to the Tigers' 13-2 victory over the Eagles on April 20, with Yorktown continuously putting pressure on its opponent.

Delta did have early chances to keep up, but had some hard-hit balls land foul while Yorktown's batters consistently found outfield gaps. Eagles senior Kate Penrod, daughter of Tigers head coach Jeremy Penrod, and junior Mia Ramsey notched the team's only hits.

Jones pitched a perfect first inning before being relieved by LaFerney, who allowed just three hits with four strikeouts in the final four innings. Jones hadn't pitched in nine days because of planned rest, so Penrod wants to ease her back before a tough six-game slate next week that ends with 3A No. 1 South Bend St. Joseph (14-0).

"We felt this was a good time, last week and this week, to get her some rest, get her ready for the long road ahead," Penrod said. "She said she felt great ... we've got a lot of games ahead of us, so we're trying to rest her if we can."

Delta trailed just 2-0 after two innings, but Yorktown sophomore Ava McNally's three-run home run in the fourth inning put the game out of reach. She finished with a team-high four RBI's, Willis had three RBI's (one triple) and LaFerney had two RBI's.

The Tigers dominated Wapahani 16-2 for the county title in 2021, but Penrod doesn't want his girls underestimating Cowan. The 1A No. 10 Blackhawks are led by a strong junior class and nearly made it to the state championship last year, and with the second-best record in this tournament field, they have as good a chance as any to give Yorktown a competitive game.

Cowan junior Tatum Rickert (1.43 ERA, 7-1) will likely pitch, and she also leads the Blackhawks in OPS (1.625) and RBI's (20). Juniors Aryonna Bynum, McKenna Minton and others can also do damage at the plate, but Jones and LaFerney have handled most 3A and 4A teams.

"We expect them to give us everything they've got," Penrod said. "We'll see what happens."

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com or 765-729-4742.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Scores, stats from 2022 Delaware County softball tournament 1st round