The Reeths-Puffer softball team seems determined to keep that big zero in its loss column.
The Rockets were in real trouble in the first game of a doubleheader against a good Holton squad on Monday.
The Red Devils scored two runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead and seriously threaten R-P’s undefeated status.
But the Rockets put on their rally caps and got the job done with the game on the line.
R-P's Natalie Kunnen makes contact at the plate. Photo/Jeremy Clark
They scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
Kyleigh Bilek led off the uprising with a double and Tessa Ross knocked her in with a single. Emme Buzzell walked, Kaylee Jones hit a bunt single to load the bases and Lainey McDaniel hit a sacrifice fly to score Rowan Bluhm, who was a courtesy runner for Ross.
Abbie Critchell then hit a two-run double and Mady Snyder knocked in Critchett with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5.
In the bottom of the sixth, Megan Barmes hit a single and advanced to second on an error, Bilek moved Barmes to third on a groundout, then Ross delivered the game-winning RBI with a beautifully executed sacrifice bunt that scored Barmes and gave R-P a thrilling 6-5 win.
R-P's Megan Barmes hauls in a popup. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Lainey McDaniel pitched the complete game victory for the Rockets, scattering six hits and striking out eight.
Reeths-Puffer had an easier time in Game 2, banging out 12 hits and claiming a 13-3 win.
The biggest hits came from Natalie Kunnen, who hit her third home run of the season, and Critchell, who hit her first. Kyleigh Bilek added a single and two doubles while Critchett, Snyder and Jones both finished with two hits.
Snyder pitched the victory, scattering eight hits while striking out eight.
R-P's Mady Snyder delivers a pitch. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“This was the first time our bats were truly quiet for four innings straight,” said R-P Coach Sarah Bayle about Game 1. “We talked in the huddle about how we were going to answer and if this was how we wanted our first loss to go because, really, we were beating ourselves up until this point by not taking good approaches at the plate and not producing when we needed to.
“After that conversation, they battled. They were not going to lose that game and got gritty and won it. Very proud of these girls for how they answered tonight and then carried that momentum into Game 2.”
Reeths-Puffer improved to 14-0-1 on the season.