WHEATLAND – In a tale of two cities softball, last week started out warm and the Lady Bulldog bats blazing against Cheyenne South to a Friday game where Cheyenne Central brought hot bats and ushered in stormy and chilly weather.

To start the week off, the Wheatland Bulldogs junior varsity team hosted Cheyenne South on Monday. The Bulldogs asserted their will over the Bison JV on their way to an easy 18-3 victory, and got things moving in the first inning and never looked back.

The Bulldogs had 18 hits during the game. Edyn Whitney, Cheyenne Warren, Tatum Struble, Traylea Foland, Kierstyn Collar, and Delaney Aurich each managed multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Whitney had a stellar night going 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Bulldogs with the most hits.

The Bulldogs were also sure handed in the field and did not commit a single error. Warren had the most fielding put-outs with nine. Struble led things off in the circle for the Bulldogs and walked away with the win. The fireballer lasted four innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out seven.

Throughout the rest of the week, the Bulldogs varsity team met up with the Cheyenne Central Indians on Tuesday in Cheyenne as well as on Friday at home.

“We struggled all week to match up with the offensive attack of Central as we dropped all four games to the Indians,” Jodie Fitzwater, head softball coach said. “In the first matchup on Tuesday, we lost with a score of 4 to 26 and lost the second game by a score of 12-13. A shining moment for the Bulldogs occurred in the third inning, when Rylee Coates hit a grand slam to give us our only runs of the game. It actually was quite exciting as the Indians’ center fielder ran back clear to the fence, reached over the fence and actually saw the ball enter her glove before it fell out on the opposite side of the fence giving Rylee Coates the grand slam.”

During the second game, the Lady Bulldogs led the game until the fourth inning, where the Indians made a screaming comeback by scoring eight runs to tie the game. The Bulldogs racked up 14 hits on the day. Aurich, Coates, Mackenzie Lockman and Karley Adams each had multiple hits during the game. Aurich led the Bulldogs with three hits in four at bats. Camryn Mickelsen launched a home run during the first inning as well.

The Bulldogs also had a strong defensive presence on the field and did not commit a single error.

“Coates had the most plays in the field with six,” Fitzwater said. “In the second matchup we lost to the Indians by a score of 17-5 in the first game and a score of 16-5 in the second game. Once again, the ladies fell behind early in the games and could not compete with the Central Indians strong offensive attack.”

In the first game, Adams, Mickelsen, Hunter Sisson, and Coates each collected one hit apiece to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Adams made a much-welcomed appearance in the circle for the Bulldogs. 

She experienced a setback with a sore elbow toward the beginning of the season keeping her from pitching. After taking the time to rehabilitate, she pitched three innings, allowed only five hits and struck out four.

“We were excited to see more of her out there during the remainder of the season,” Fitzwater said. “In the second game, the team was shorthanded in the circle after Lockman suffered a hard hit to her shin during the first game and with Adams being limited to throwing more pitches, Aurich stepped up and pitched the complete game for the Bulldogs. She held the Indians to three runs until the sixth inning. The coaches were very proud of her to keep pitching throughout the offensive onslaught of the Indians during the sixth inning. She knew that there was no one else to come in, and it was hard, very hard, as a coach to have to leave her in there.”

Offensively, Coates went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Bulldogs.

“Defensively, Sisson had the most plays in the field with five,” Fitzwater said. “Sisson made some outstanding catches in center field, showing off her ability to travel long distances to get to the ball.”

Friday was also the Lady Bulldogs Varsity senior night. The team celebrated their three seniors, Megan Biggs, Jayden McDaniel and Savanna Metz. Each of the seniors played all three years since the conception of High School Softball in Wyoming.

“I was extremely proud and grateful to have them all on the team these past three years and also had the opportunity to coach them when they were younger as part of the Little Lady Lobos recreation team,” Fitzwater said. “Each of them has made their mark in their own special way with the team and will truly be missed next season.”

In the upcoming week, the Lady Bulldogs JV team will host Cheyenne East JV on Monday at 4 and 5:30 p.m. They will then host Cheyenne Central JV on Tuesday, at 4 and 5:30 p.m. On Thursday, the varsity Bulldogs will host Cheyenne East at 3 and 5 p.m. All the Bulldog players will be hosting “Teacher Appreciation Night” during the intermission between the first and second games on the night of May 11. Hosting this event has become a yearly tradition for the team and they look forward to honoring a favorite teacher that has impacted their education at one point or another.