Softball: Waldron, Batavia knock off DeKalb
Kaylan Waldron and Allison Bahlmann bat in succession for the Batavia softball team.
In the first inning Saturday morning against DeKalb, the duo had back-to-back run-scoring doubles.
It was all the offense Waldron would need as the Bulldogs' starting pitcher.
The consecutive extra-base hits capped a 3-run opening inning for the Bulldogs in their 7-2 nonconference victory over the Barbs in Batavia.
"I was going up (to the plate) to hit and score the runners that we could," said Bahlmann, who had 3 of the Bulldogs' 13 hits. "I was trying to do my job. It was very key to getting our team going."
Waldron, a southpaw, went the distance in improving to 2-1 on the young season for the Bulldogs (3-1).
"It's rare to see a lefty pitcher," said Waldron. "It's really all about the team. (The early run support) was definitely critical, because (the Barbs) are a really good hitting team and also a good defensive team. They were tough competition last year."
Staked to a 3-0 first-inning lead after Bahlmann had an almost carbon-copy double down the left-field to score her, Waldron surrendered a mere earned run.
But Bahlmann restored the Bulldogs' 3-run cushion by doubling home Waldron for a second straight time after the former drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third.
Alena Theis' groundout scored Bahlman moments later, and Jessica Kleist, who reached via a gorgeous bunt single, concluded the Bulldogs' second 3-run inning by trotting home on a two-out infield error.
"We have been doing a nice job of jumping off to a lead right away," Batavia coach Lupe Castellanos said. "It's really key to get your offense going. It takes some pressure off the defense."
The Batavia offense enjoyed a robust game against two different DeKalb pitchers.
DeKalb (3-3) never enjoyed a hitless inning in the Bulldogs' six at-bats.
The Bulldogs had a half-dozen extra-base hits, including fifth-inning triples to the right-center gap by Kleist and Toni Galas.
Peyton Sachse scored Kleist on a safety squeeze bunt for the Bulldogs' final run after the Barbs' Payton Montgomery scored on a dropped fly ball in the top half of the fifth.
Waldron, who retired the side in order twice, did the rest.
The junior, a three-year varsity member, induced three routine outs in the Barbs' sixth, and the game ended when a Barb runner sought to snare an extra base following the Bulldogs' second error.
"Today was basically the final day of what we like to call spring training," DeKalb coach Jeff Davis said. "We played some kids who normally - or may not - play in the regular season."