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Celina's Jacci Felver (11) makes the catch as St. Henry's Paige Felver gets back to the second base bag.
CELINA - St. Henry produced with its bats, but a young Celina team showed some moxie.
The Redskins scored two runs each in the third and fifth innings as Leah Lefeld and Jalynn Everman combined to hold the Bulldogs to two third-inning runs in a 6-2 win in the 2024 softball season lidlifter for both teams at Westview Park.
"I was especially proud of our pitchers," said St. Henry coach Ashley Knapke. "Leah really stepped up and threw it in there. It was her first time pitching. Jalynn did a great job after her."
Lefeld and Everman allowed just four hits, while Celina pitchers Colbie Kinney and Lilly Gonzalez scattered just seven hits and struck out eight along the way.
"I love that both of them are ready to go at any time," said first-year Celina coach Renee Williams. "If we need to make a change, they're supportive of one another. Was super proud how they handled the situation."
After scoring an unearned run in the top of the first, St. Henry picked up two runs in the third as Lauren Thieman singled and scored on Everman's triple. One out later, Kennedy Wendel singled home Everman.
"It took us a little bit," said Knapke about getting hits. "Our first couple scrimmages our bats were pretty hot, then it slowed. Tonight we found a way."
Celina's Campbelle Gass, left, tags out St. Henry's Rya Buschur on a stolen base attempt during Monday's softball opener at Westview Park. St. Henry came away with a 6-2 victory over the Bulldogs.
Celina bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the third. Campbelle Gass doubled home Caitlin Nuding and then came home on Kinney's groundout to second.
That was all for Celina. Lefeld retired the side in the fourth and then gave way to Everman for the final three innings.
Everman allowed two hits, but benefitted from great defense. Thieman made a great diving catch in center field to end the fifth. Then in the sixth after Kinney led off with a double, Gonzalez lined to second, where Rya Buschur snagged the ball and threw to shortstop Alexis Buschur to complete the double play.
"I'm proud of the girls," said Knapke. "We have some girls that are in the same positions (as last season). They just stepped up."
Still, Williams was happy with her team's effort.
"Overall, we're young, but we're going to be competitive in every situation," said Williams.
Kennedy Wendel and Paige Felver each had two hits for St. Henry. Gass had two of the four Celina hits.
Both teams are on the road tonight. St. Henry travels to Pitsburg to take on Franklin Monroe while Celina heads to Four Seasons Park to face Minster.
