Buzzard’s big hit sparked a 15-2 win over Keys and the Lady Wolverines followed that with two victories over Stigler while moving to 25-2 on the season and earning a berth in the upcoming regional playoffs.
Vian routed Stigler 21-0 to hand the Lady Panthers their first loss of the day in the double-elimination tournament. The Lady Wolverines then clinched the district title with a 13-1 triumph over Stigler in the final game of the day.
Second baseman Lauren McElhaney capped a perfect 10-for-10 day at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a single, a double and a home run in the final win. Her solo shot led off the bottom of the fourth inning and was her second of the day. That gave Vian a 12-1 lead and, with one out, Rachael Sanders doubled off the wall in left center. Two batters later, Chelsie Drew hit an RBI single and Sanders avoided the tag at home plate to bring the run rule into effect and end the game.
Vian had 16 hits in the victory, including two apiece by Raychel Girty, Sanders, Buzzard, Drew and Tonya Knotts. Brittany Long, Hollie Casey and Sydney Sloan also had hits for the Lady Wolverines.
Stigler took an early 1-0 lead when Mallory Martin’s sacrifice fly drove in Audrey Bush in the top of the first inning. Vian came right back with six runs in the bottom of the inning to take control. Girty, Buzzard and Drew all hit RBI singles and Knotts drove in two runs with a triple that rolled to the fence in left center. Knotts scored from third on an error to give Vian a 6-1 lead.
The Lady Wolverines had another big inning in the bottom of the third after McElhaney led off by smacking a double off the fence. Sanders and Knotts both singled in runs before Long belted a two-run single. Sloan made it 11-1 with an RBI single for the fifth run of the inning.
Vian plated two more runs in the fourth while finishing off a strong showing offensively. However, the Lady Wolverines also had their moments in the field with several fine defensive plays. Sloan made a diving catch in center field to rob Stigler of a hit in the third inning. The Lady Wolverines also got out of two innings when senior shortstop LaQuieta Drew twice fielded grounders and combined with second baseman McElhaney and first baseman Buzzard to turn double plays.
