The Wayne Lady Bulldogs slow-pitch team has kicked off their season and are 1-1 with a 29-4 win over Ninnekah and a 16-9 loss to Carnegie on Monday.

Head coach Nikki Herrin has ten girls out and no seniors.

“We have ten, which is not always ideal with no subs, but the girls have good chemistry. I’m excited for the season,” Herrin said.

Junior Ava Stottlemyre will be in the circle for Wayne. Sophomore Cylie Jones could see some pitching duties as well.

“Ava is reliable and has experience since she’s pitched for me for two years.”

Herrin has her infield mostly set with Jones at first most of the time and alternating between Addison Clagg and Alana Digby at second. Sophomore Taelyn Ringwald will  hold down short stop while freshman Maddie Moreno will man third.

According to Herrin, the outfield is a little more up in the air but she has Alyssa Hobson at left field, Audra Watts at left center and Lily Whitaker in right.

Right center is similar to second as Clagg and Digby could share time.

Freshman Scarlett Selzer will be catcher and Herrin thinks she’ll do well because she gives it her all all the time.

Herrin is looking forward to the season as she believes her team strength is their hitting.

“I think we excel at hitting. Even my girls with less experience can get a hold of the ball and hit it well.”

Herrin believes her schedule is a good mix of challenging games.

“We’ll see a lot of good teams in the tournaments on our schedule and our regular schedule games will be good to grow our confidence,” Herrin said.

“I’m excited to see how it can go. The ball is in their hands and it can go as well we want it to go or as bad as we let it go.”

Ninnekah & Carnegie

Monday night Wayne jumped on Ninnekah from the first inning, scoring 21 runs. They added four more in the second and third innings. The Lady Bulldogs won 29-4.

Bats were on fire as Moreno drove in six runs on five hits. Ringwald and Clagg were both 4-4 at the plate. 

The team had 29 RBIs and 31 hits.

Both Stottlemyre and Jones saw time in the circle. They combined to allow four runs on six hits. Jones had one strikeout.

In their second game, Wayne dropped a 16-9 loss against Carnegie.

The Lady Bulldogs collected 12 hits but were plagued by five errors.

In the first inning Carnegie jumped on top with six runs.

Wayne answered in the bottom of the first with five runs, including four from a Stottlemyre grand slam.

Carnegie added another run in the second inning on a Wayne error.

But, Wayne tied it up in the third, 7-7.

Carnegie scored three more in the fourth inning and took the lead for good.

Wayne added two more runs in the fourth, but couldn’t keep up with the Carnegie offense.

Despite the loss, Clagg, Whitaker, Moreno and Stottlemyre each had two hits.

Stottlemyre took the loss, surrendering 16 runs on 13 hits. She struck out one.

The Lady Bulldogs round out their first week at Wetumka on Thursday and hosting Fletcher and Wynnewood on Friday.

They will also host Riverside on Monday, March 10.