Tuesday marked the final day of the season for the Wood River softball team.
It was a season marked by injuries and loss, but also of progression and learning by a very young and very game team.
"This is probably the most improved team in the history of Wood River softball," coach Dale Martin said.
In the first round of the Great Basin Conference West tournament in Rupert, #1 Minico (13-10) blanked the Wolverines 11-0, which was followed with a painfully close 7-6 loss to Burley in the loser-out contest. The Bobcats (5-13) scored five runs in the last two innings to nip the Wolverines by one run.
"We played well until the sixth inning. Too many unearned runs," Martin remarked.
The Wolverines (5-19) opened with two-run first and second frames and held a 6-2 lead through the visitor sixth. Then the wheels fell off. Burley plated four runs in the home sixth to tie the game and won it in the seventh on a throwing error to home plate.
Ali Sherbine (2 RBI) tagged two hits and scored one run. Jamie Stone (2 RBI) doubled and scored and Lisa Nilsen had one knock.
Undefeated in league play, #1 Minico manhandled Hailey 11-0, belting 10 hits and capitalizing on eight errors by the young Wolverines.
"It was kind of a mirror of the season," Martin remarked. "I thought we had an excellent game plan going in -- we slow pitched them and it worked. They hit the ball right at us, but we committed four errors and they scored five runs in the first."
Senior pitcher Amber Warth fanned 12 batters and allowed just two hits by Genii Vert and Barbara Ann Coleman.
"Warth is the best pitcher we have faced. She was overpowering," Martin said.
Later in the day, Minico defeated Jerome 6-2. The Tigers turned about and knocked out Burley 15-8 to earn the right to play Minico in the conference championship.
On the season, Wood River scored 94 runs in 24 games (3.9 rpg.) and allowed 210 (8.7 rpg.).
