Published: June 12, 2008 09:53 am      

Camanche girls defeat Bellevue

CAMANCHE — The Camanche Indians softball team improved to 5-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big East Conference as they took a 3-1 decision from the Bellevue Comets Wednesday night.

The loss was Bellevue’s first in the Big East as the Comets fell to 9-6 on the season and 4-1 in the league.

The starting pitchers for both teams, Camanche’s Lauren Ryan and Bellevue’s Kristin Valant, did not give up any runs until the third inning.

All the game’s runs were scored in the third inning and all the hits in the game, seven for the Comets and four for the Indians, were singles.

Ryan recorded six strikeouts, while Valant had five. Valant gave up the only one walk for either team.

The Comets got two hits in the first inning after two outs. Makenzie Budde, who led the team with three hits, was left stranded at third while Alesha Ries reached first.

In the third inning, after two outs, Bellevue’s Caley Medinger got a single to left, went to second on a wild pitch and scored the Comets’ only run on an RBI single by Budde.

The Indians took advantage of three Comet errors and a couple of hits and scored their three runs.

Katelyn Gilbert reached first after the catcher dropped the ball on a strikeout, but was thrown out trying to go to second.

Cassie Willis came up with a single and scored the first run of the inning as Katelyn Ryan reached first on a fielder’s choice.

Katelyn Ryan scored the second run of the frame when Sarah Thornton reached on a throwing error. Thornton later scored on a single by Lauren Ryan to make it 3-1.

The Indians played error-less ball and had a double play in the second inning.

Camanche will be back in conference action Monday when they host Calamus-Wheatland.

“We needed this win,” Indians coach Troy Dodd said. “We had a three-game losing streak. I was really impressed with our defense, and we got our bats going.

“Bellevue is a solid team and has a good pitcher. We had several of our girls make some great plays. This is one game that they deserved to win.”

Score by Innings

Bellevue 001 000 0 — 1 7 3

Camanche 003 000 x — 3 4 0

Kristin Valant and Makenzie Budde. Lauren Ryan and Heather Bresnahan.

Two or more hits—Bellevue, Budde 3.

Records—Bellevue 9-6, 4-1 Big East Conference; Camanche 5-5, 3-2. Next—Calamus-Wheatland at Camanche, 5:30 p.m. Monday.

JV score—Bellevue 10, Camanche 0.