By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – The West De Pere softball team used the hitting of Anna Young and the pitching of Genesis Eggart to post an 11-4 non-conference victory over Bay Port May 16.
Young was 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBI, while Eggart struck out 12 and allowed only three hits on the mound.
“You can’t take anyone for granted that’s pitching to you,” said the senior Young. “I went up there looking for hits. We have to give our all for the postseason. For me and the other seniors, it’s our last raps.”
The Phantoms (16-4) are the No. 5 seed in the upcoming WIAA Division 1 bracket and will host No. 12 Appleton East Tuesday, May 21.
West De Pere will rely on the powerful right arm of the junior Eggart, who has pitched every single inning this year for the Phantoms.
“This definitely wasn’t my best performance with my control,” said Eggart, who issued nine walks. “My defense has helped me a lot, and that’s how we get out of big innings. The last few games for me have been a little shaky – I’m a rise-ball pitcher, so it’s just a matter of my release point.”
West De Pere sent nine batters to the dish in both the fourth and six innings.
In the fourth, the Phantoms scored five runs on four hits off Bay Port pitcher Nicole Vandervest, who left after 5 2/3 innings.
In a four-run sixth, West De Pere used two hits, two walks and an error to plate its runs.
“We are ready for sectional play,” said West De Pere head coach Tom Zimdars. “We feel that if we play the way we can, we can have a successful sectional.”
The Phantoms have a potential showdown waiting on the horizon with Green Bay Preble if both teams win their regional opener.
“I used to coach at Green Bay East, and one of the games I always liked was going against Preble,” Zimdars added. “Hopefully we can take care of Appleton East and move on.”
Besides Young, Brianna Destache had two hits, while Alexa Thomson, Rebekah Buboltz, Eggart and Taylor Degroot each added one.
Bay Port (10-12) had taken a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third on a Maddy Ehlke RBI double and a sacrifice fly to left by Karigann Wood.
Wood added a double in the seventh, while Emma Hock had the only other hit for the Pirates.
Vandervest allowed eight hits, walked three and struck out six.
The Pirates, who will travel to No. 8-seeded Kimberly for its regional opener, honored its four seniors – Jourdan Lee, Hock, Olivia Smith and Wood – after the game.
Box score
West De Pere: 010 504 1 – 11 10 0
Bay Port: 012 001 0 – 4 3 2