MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP - The Reeths-Puffer softball team got off to a great start this season, with little in the way of adversity to deal with.
But the Rockets’ perfect season was interrupted on Tuesday when they lost a game to Wyoming, and a second loss seemed imminent on Thursday when they trailed perennial area power Oakridge by four runs.
Reeths-Puffer proved up to the challenge, however, rallying in the late innings to pull out an exciting 10-6 victory over the Eagles in front of an excited home crowd.
“I told them we’ve built all the pieces, then tonight we put it all together and showed up,” said R-P Coach Sarah Bayle. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
R-P's Megan Barmes rounds third and heads for home. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Things looked bad for the Rockets after they surrendered four runs in the top of the fourth inning to fall behind 6-2.
But they responded by scoring two runs in the home half of the inning to make it a ballgame again. Kaylee Jones knocked home Jersi Bilek and Lainey McDaniel to make the score 6-4.
McDaniel took over on the mound in the top of the fifth and retired Oakridge in order, with two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, R-P's Kyleigh Bilek scored on a wild pitch, then Abbie Critchett brought home Brook Buchan with an RBI groundout to tie the game 6-6.
R-P's Kyleigh Bilek slides safely into home. Photo/Jeremy Clark
McDaniel did her part again in the top of the sixth by striking out all three Oakridge batters.
McDaniel led off the bottom of the sixth with an infield single, then Jones dropped a bunt. An Oakridge error on the play allowed McDaniel to come all the way around to score while Jones advanced to third.
With a fresh 7-6 lead, R-P’s Kyleigh Bilek hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Jones, then Buchan knocked home Natalie Kunnen and Megan Barmes to give the Rockets a 10-6 lead.
McDaniel finished off the game with another 1-2-3 inning from the mound.
R-P pitcher Mady Snyder, who started the game on the mound. Photo/Jeremy Clark
McDaniel tossed three innings while allowing one hit and striking out seven to collect the win.
“I knew I had my team behind me,” McDaniel said about her performance on the mound. “I knew we were going to come back. I knew that my rise ball would be good against them, and I wasn’t too nervous, but I had some nerves.”
Reeths-Puffer took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Barmes brought home McDaniel with a sacrifice bunt.
That held until the third when Gracie Clark of Oakridge hit a two-run single to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
R-P's Kaylee Jones lays down a bunt that led to a big play. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Reeths-Puffer tied the game 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning on a Madison Snyder RBI single that scored Barmes.
Oakridge had a big fourth inning behind a three-run home run by Clark, followed by a solo homer from Brenna Cabrera, and took a 6-2 lead.
But the Rockets showed what they were made of by scoring the final eight runs of the game.
“That was probably the best game of softball I’ve seen at the high school level,” Bayle said. “From start to finish, everything was right.”
Reeths-Puffer, now 13-1 on the season, will host West Ottawa on Friday in a doubleheader.
