By STEVE MORRISON
Niles Daily Star

To begin a three-game round-robin tournament, freshmen Hannah Porterfield and Sarah Cramer teamed up for three RBIs apiece as Niles’ varsity softball team won 11-8 against host Brandywine’s  Bobcats on Saturday.

In the cross-town rivalry Brandywine outhit Niles 12 to 10, but five Bobcat errors proved costly to the outcome.

Brandywine scored first against Niles starter and winning pitcher, Brooke Wilson.

Second baseman Allie Harris drew a two-out walk off of Wilson in the bottom of the second. She tallied moments later as the next hitter shortstop Ellie Price, smoked a double into the left field corner. Two more walks issued by Wilson loaded the bags for Brandywine’s No. 2 hitter, Arielle Colcord.

Colcord ripped a smash into right field that would have scored two but Niles’ rightfielder, Heather Daniels used her powerful arm to narrowly cut down Colcord at first to deny the Bobcats scoring opportunity.

With one out in the top of the third, Viking centerfielder Charissa Spear singled to begin a Niles rally.

Brittney Buti reached first on an error at second by Harris. Wilson coaxed a walk out of Brandywine starter Brande Overholt to load the bases.

The stage was set for freshman catcher Hannah Porterfield, who had doubled to right-center in her first at bat for Niles. Porterfield crushed a bases-loaded three-run double to the left-center gap to put Niles in front at 3-1.

Daniels reached first on an error by Brandywine first baseman Madison Pellow. Next up, Niles third baseman Cramer knocked them in with a two-out single to create a 5-1 Niles lead.

The Vikings came back with three more in their top half of the fourth frame.

Sophie Nielsen led off with a walk for Niles. Spear deposited her second straight single to put runners at first and third. After Buti flew out to left field, Wilson reached on an error by Price, at shortstop.  Spear scored on an error. Daniels cleared the bases with a two-out triple and Niles led 8-1.

Not to be denied the Bobcats went back to work in their at bat in the bottom half of the inning.

Harris began it with a single. Price reached first on a fielder’s choice. Pellow singled and Rachel Ort did the same to score Price. Colcord got on with a walk. Chelsea Ravitch drove in two with a bases-loaded single. One out later, Overholt’s hit scored Colcord.
With the score tightened at 8-5, both Niles and Brandywine failed to put anything on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth, Brandywine relief pitcher Mikaela Kemp got two quick outs, but things began to stir for Niles when Kemp hit Porterfield with a pitch and Daniels singled.

Three more consecutive base hits by Cramer, Ashley Evans and Abby McKeel plated three Niles runs on the board for an 11-5 Viking lead.

Despite Ravitch’s leadoff double, Wilson worked through a scoreless sixth.

Niles was held scoreless by Kemp, in the top of the seventh.

Entering their last at bat, the Bobcats’ Price led off with her second double of the day. One out later Ort walked and Colcord followed with a base knock for two RBIs.

Ravitch reached first on a base on balls. Sam Vaughn followed with a single and a fielder’s choice to Nielsen made the score 11-8.

That’s where it finished as Wilson retired the next two hitters with two Bobcat runners left on base.

“I was happy with the way we competed,” began Niles coach Gary Collis. “We’re young and my freshman pitcher (Wilson), I was proud of. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win.”

Brandywine coach Angie Mellotte was pleased with her team’s comeback attempts.
“We always seem to have one bad inning (errors) and that’s what killed our chance,” she offered.

Niles is 9-20 for the season, while Brandywine stands at 6-23.

In the second game of the tripleheader, Niles defeated Gobles 8-5.

Wilson started, but did not pick up a decision as Daniels worked the final six innings, strikeout out four.

The Vikings finished with 11 hits, including a single and a double by Cramer, along with doubles from Larkin Carey and Evans.

Crafter, Carey and Evans combined to drive in six of the Niles’ eight runs.

Porterfield and Daniels chipped in with two hits apiece.

The final game result was a 4-1 Gobles victory over the Brandywine Bobcats.
Kemp took the loss for Brandywine.

Price had a triple for the Bobcats, who also got a single and a double from Allie Harris and a double from Rachael Ort.

First game
Niles 005 303 0 – 11 10 1
Brandywine 010 400 3 – 8 12  5
Brooke Wilson (W) and Hannah Porterfield
Brande Overholt (L) and Heather Hadden
2B: Ellie Price 2 (B), Chelsea Ravitch 1 (B); Porterfield 2 (N)
3B: Heather Daniels 1 (N)

Second game
Gobles 300 002 0 – 5 6 0
Niles 320 030 x – 8 11 2
Brooke Wilson, Heather Daniels (W) and Hannah Porterfield
K. Waller (L) and L. Gilpea
2B: Waller (G), Sarah Cramer (N), Larkin Carey (N), Ashley Evans (N)
Varsity record: Niles 9-20

Third game
Gobles 012  001 0 – 4 9 0
Brandywine  010 000 0 – 1 5 1
Mikaela Kemp (L) and Rachael Ort
Pratt(W) and Gidea
2B: Thompson (G), Sipes (G), Allie Harris (B)
3B: Ellie Price (B)
HR: Thompson (G)
Varsity records: Gobles 19-10, Brandywine 6-23