The Lady Wave softball team treats every team like a rival, regardless of where they fall in the standings.
After losing its first league game to Fernley last week, Fallon has approached the last two series as if it were facing the best team in the league. Since that loss, Fallon has won six in a row against Truckee and Sparks, outscoring the Wolverines, 58-1, and Sparks, 38-18.
“We have approached each game the same,” first-year coach Kasey Chu said. “I have really had the girls focus on pitch selection and making sure to not start swinging at bad pitches. I have been very proud of them in this area as they have had very good discipline at the plate.”
That Fernley loss opened some eyes, especially at the plate, which allowed Chu’s team to make adjustments against Truckee and Sparks. The Wolverines, unfortunately, were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“We had a lot of strikeouts during the Fernley game. I challenged them to swing the bat more and not let so many good pitches go by,” Chu said. “We are working on getting ahead as a batter instead of the pitcher having control. I was proud that they didn’t hang their heads and the next day at practice they came to work.”
And came to work they did. Fallon lit up the scoreboard against Truckee and all players were able to contribute. Against Sparks this week in a make-up series, Fallon was able to adjust to stronger pitching and didn’t flinch. Fallon improved to 9-1 in the 3A North as it enters the second half of the league season this weekend with Spring Creek coming to Fallon.
“They have gotten to see a lot of live pitching,” Chu said. “This week we made up our games against Sparks and they were able to get a lot of at bats against a good pitcher. We have been able to put some girls in different positions and have a look at different strengths of each girl.”
In the first game against Truckee, a 21-0 shutout, senior Faith Cornmesser was perfect at the plate in belting two home runs and driving in seven. Junior Shelbi Schultz drove in three on two hits, including a homer, and sophomore Bella Jones drove in three on a triple.
In the 22-1 victory on Saturday, it was as balanced as it could get at the plate. All players had an RBI with Schultz and senior Macie Anderson leading the attack with four RBIs. The 15-0 nightcap victory rode on the bat of senior Jordan Beyers, who homered and drove in five, while Anderson and Cornmesser each had two RBIs.
Senior Hannah Hitchcock, sophomore Ashley Agaman, Schultz and Cornmesser all pitched against Truckee.
Fallon had a tougher challenge against Sparks but still came out with the series sweep as the Lady Wave welcomes Spring Creek on Friday for a three-game series. Fallon travels to Elko next weekend.
“They have learned a lot of patience during these last few games, staying focused and set back,” Chu said. “With Fernley being right in the middle of the rest of the games, they had to leave that loss there and come to play the next series of games. I was proud of the determination that they showed after the Fernley loss.”
In the first game against Sparks on Monday, Fallon opened with an early 4-0 lead but the Railroaders came back to within a pair of runs in the third inning. Fallon led 7-5 going into the final frame before icing the game with two more runs for the 9-5 win.
All but one player recorded a hit against Sparks as Agaman led the team with a four-hit, two-RBI performance. Anderson and senior Stacy Kalt each drove in two runs on three and two hits, respectively. Agaman also belted a home run and picked up the win in the circle, going 5 1/3 innings, striking out five while giving up two earned runs. Hitchcock closed the door in the final inning without allowing a run.
Cornmesser didn’t play in the series.
Fallon opened with a 5-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings in Tuesday’s first game of the doubleheader before Sparks scored three in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game within a run. Fallon added three in the fifth and four in the seventh to seal the 14-6 win.
Junior Lorynn Fagg homered and singled to lead Fallon with 3 RBIs, while Hitchcock and senior Caitlyn Welch each drove in two. Welch had three hits, including a triple, and Anderson doubled and singled twice while driving in one. Hitchcock pitched a complete game to earn the win.
In the series finale, Fallon broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with seven runs and then added four in the sixth and two in the seventh for the 15-7 win.
Anderson led Fallon at the plate with two doubles and two singles and junior Rylee Buckmaster, Beyers and Schultz each drove in three. Buckmaster and Beyers each collected three hits, including a double. Schultz picked up the win in a complete-game effort. She struck out four but yielded 10 hits and eight walks.
“At the plate, the seniors have really stood out to me,” Chu said. “They have all taken a great approach at the plate and lead their team in this area. I am excited to see them finish out the rest of their high school careers. All of our pitchers have really stepped up as well.”
JV takes second
The Lady Wave junior varsity softball team played with the big schools last weekend and didn’t flinch.
Fallon took second in the two-day Nicole Snyder Memorial Tournament in Gardnerville. Fallon opened with a 7-4 loss to Spanish Springs on Friday but bounced back with a 6-3 win over Reno. Fallon knocked off Reed, 7-6, and Douglas, 3-1, on Saturday to set up a rematch with the Cougars for the tournament title. Spanish Springs, though, prevailed, 11-6.
The JV team includes sophomores Torlana Rham, Jhada Ramsey, Makenzee Moretto and Emily Marshall, and freshmen Raelynn Neumann, Samantha Frost, Kate Rios, Savana Manha, Shaylee Fagg, Gabriella Winkler, Destiny Tonti, Addison Sandberg and Mackenzie Fish. Fallon is coached by Louie Mori.
