The Annawan-Wethersfield softball team (7-21) closed out the regular season with home field losses to Cuba/Spoon River (15-3) on Wednesday and Mercer County (18-3) on Thursday.
The (6) Titans now enter post-season play Wednesday, taking on the (3) Amboy Clippers at 4:30 pm at Amboy. The winner of that game will play Henry-Senachwine at 4:30 on Friday.
Prior to the Mercer County game, five Titan senior players were recognized for their contributions to the program. The seniors recognized were Sophie Nimrick, Elaina Manuel, Melissa Lara, Paige Huffman and Traidan Hier.
Cuba-Spoon River 15, Annawan-Wethersfield 3
After the first three innings of play, the Wildcats (14-4) held an 8-0 lead. The Titans put up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting the lead to six runs.
Wavelynn Peart got the offense started by reaching first on an error. Sophie Nimrick then hit a line drive to center field for a double and Peart scored the first run for A-W at 8-1.
Aaliyah Hayes also reached on an error and batted in Nimrick on the play for a score of 8-2. The Wildcats tacked on four more runs in the fifth inning, expanding the lead to 12-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, three Titan players hit singles (Karsyn Rico, Paige Huffman and Traidan Hier). With bases loaded, Rico scored on a wild pitch before the Wildcats collected the third out.
Cuba-Spoon River added three more runs in the sixth inning for a final score of 15-3.
Cali Hanson picked up the win for the Wildcats. In six innings in the circle, Hanson struck out six and walked one, while giving up five hits and three runs (one earned).
Nimrick suffered the loss for the Titans. In three innings of play, she struck out three and walked two, while surrendering nine hits and eight runs (six earned).
Elaina Manuel (1-2, 1 BB). Nimrick (1-3, 1 double, 1 run, 1 BB). Rico (1-3, 1 run). Huffman (1-3). Hier (1-2). Huffman (1-3). Peart (1 run).
Mercer County 18, Annawan-Wethersfield 3
Elaina Manuel hit a double on a fly ball to left field and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Titans a 1-0 first inning lead.
Mercer County (19-9) then erupted for nine runs in the second inning and two in the third to extend the lead to 11-1.
In the bottom of the third inning Karsyn Rico hit a line drive triple to right field. Sophie Nimrick then hit an RBI single, plating Rico for a score of 11-2.
Natalie Thompson returned the favor for the Golden Eagles, hitting a triple of her own in the fourth inning. Alivia Gillespie scored on the play, giving Mercer County a lead of 12-2.
The Golden Eagles scored six more runs in the top of the fifth inning to round out their 18-run effort. In the bottom of the inning, Rico added a double to her hit arsenal for the Titans. Paige Huffman then hit a single and Rico scored on a wild pitch for the final A-W run and a score of 18-3.
Elsie Cook pitched all five innings for the Golden Eagles to earn the win. She struck out five batters and walked two, while surrendering seven hits and three runs (all earned).
Nimrick pitched five innings in the loss for the Titans. She struck out five and walked six, while giving up 15 hits and 18 runs (11 earned).
Rico (2-3, 1 triple, 2 runs). Huffman (2-3). Nimrick (1-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB). Manuel (1-3, 1 double, 1 run).
