Patch junior Katelyn Tingey picked up the win as she pitched six innings, giving up six hits and striking out four batters en route to an 18-10 victory in the first of two games Saturday against host Wiesbaden. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Patch junior Katelyn Tingey picked up the win as she pitched six innings, giving up six hits and striking out four batters en route to an 18-10 victory in the first of two games Saturday against host Wiesbaden. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
All-Europe Wiesbaden senior Apryl Jackson pitched two complete games on Saturday against the visiting Patch Lady Panthers, the defending Division-I DODDS-Europe softball champions. Jackson hurled a total of 300 pitches in the two Saturday games. Although her pitching was solid, it wasn't enough to snatch a victory from Patch. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden senior Kristel Jabbusch makes contact with the ball during a Saturday doubleheader against Patch. Patch won both contests. Jabbusch scored two runs and drove in two more during the first game. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden sophomore catcher Victoria Myers tags out Patch senior Peyton Smith at the plate during the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader. Patch swept the matchups, remaining undefeated on the year. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Patch senior Caitlyn Steffen slides into second base as Wiesbaden junior Kirsten Velsvaag awaits the ball on Saturday. Patch defeated host Wiesbaden in both games of an afternoon doubleheader. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Patch senior Haile Baker heads into third base on Saturday during a doubleheader against the host Lady Warriors from Wiesbaden. Patch, the defending Division I DODDS-Europe champion, won both games. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Patch junior Katelyn Tingey hits the ball on Saturday during a doubleheader against Wiesbaden. Patch went on to win both games. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Patch All-Europe third baseman Shannon Wright follows the ball on Saturday as her Patch Panthers knocked off the host squad from Wiesbaden during both games of a doubleheader. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden junior Kirsten Velsvaag had a solid day at the plate for the Wiesbaden Lady Warriors on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to knock off the defending Division I champion Patch Lady Panthers. Patch went on to win two games against the host squad. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
Patch sophomore Paige Miller picked up the first win of her high school softball career on Saturday as she went five innings, giving up six hits and one earned run against Wiesbaden. Patch swept a Saturday doubleheader against the host Lady Warriors. (Mark Patton/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — The defending DODDS-Europe Division I softball champs had to put on their rally caps Saturday during a doubleheader to escape the scrappy host squad from Wiesbaden.
The Patch Lady Panthers used 10-run innings in both games to sweep the Lady Warriors, 18-10 and 19-11, and remain unbeaten in their 2012 campaign.
During the first game, as the teams battled to stay dry and warm during periods of rain and chilly wind, Wiesbaden’s All-Europe senior ace, Apryl Jackson, kept the Patch bats at bay as she battled out of first- and third-inning jams. Patch had the bases loaded with just one out both times, but left runners stranded.
Patch, playing without star sophomore pitcher Amber Marvin, relied on the arm of junior Katelyn Tingey to keep the score even headed into the third. That’s when Wiesbaden junior Kirsten Velsvaag belted an RBI double that cleared the center field wall after one bounce, igniting her club.
The Lady Warriors took a 9-4 lead to the fifth inning. Patch’s bats woke up and cut the Wiesbaden lead to two heading into the sixth and final inning.
“Our whole team got pumped up and we started getting our bats going,” said winning pitcher Tingey, who also went 2 for 3 at the plate.
Just how pumped up? Patch rallied to score 10 times to put the game out of reach.
Jackson, who was battling a blister during the game, said despite the loss, it was a good test for where her team stood for Europeans.
“I just think we got down on ourselves with a couple of mistakes we made,” Jackson said.
Patch’s All-Europe third base senior Shannon Wright said she was hoping for more of the same from her team in the second game, minus the last-inning comeback.
Wright’s wish came true to a degree, but the Lady Panthers once again had to come from behind.
Trailing 9-3 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning, Patch belted out 10 runs again.
Wiesbaden had jumped out early, with a five-run first inning, rattling Patch freshman pitcher Mikaela Cunningham, who was relieved after two innings by sophomore Paige Miller.
Miller’s arm proved to be steadier, as she gave up only one earned run through the next five innings. The effort was enough to earn Miller her first career high school win.
Jackson took the loss for the Lady Warriors. She pitched complete games in both matchups and notched a staggering 300 pitches on the day.
“Patch is an excellent team,” said Wiesbaden skipper Carl Johnson. “We’re so young and inexperienced; we have to learn to stop the big innings.”
Patch moved to 6-0 in region and overall play, while the Lady Warriors fell to 3-2 in the region and 3-5 overall.
Patch sophomore Jenny Sparks, who went 5 for 6 with a triple, 2 RBIs and 4 runs on Saturday, said she’s proud of her squad and the way they performed when tested on Saturday.
“We just had to keep our chins up and play our game,” Sparks said.
Other leading hitters for Patch were Lis Nantz, who went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs in the second game and senior Jessica Rahn, who went 2 for 4 with a double.
Wiesbaden’s offense was anchored by Velsvagg, who went 3 for 6 and scored six runs. In the morning game, senior Kristel Jabbusch knocked in two runs and scored twice. Jackson went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs and runs in the afternoon game and freshman Jackie Renzi also batted .500 during the finale.
