DEFIANCE – The Tinora Lady Rams were supposed to have their home opener this evening vs the Bulldogs of Defiance. Wet grounds forced the game to be moved, so the Lady Rams loaded up the bus for the short trip over to Defiance to play on the turf fields at DHS.
The Bulldogs, still the visiting team although at home, jumped on Tinora starter Scylea Zolman for a single run in the first inning. Zolman was coming off a no-hit, 14 strikeout performance in her win over Patrick Henry on Saturday.
Bulldog Lindsey Roth drew a one out walk, stole two bases, then scored on a ground out by Aly Escamilla, Defiance led 1-0after one half inning.
Tinora battled back to tie the game at 1-1 after the first inning. Lady Rams Logan McQuillin singled with one out. McQuillin scored on a two out double by the lone Lady Rams senior, Quinn Horn. Horn was stranded at third.
Tinora’s Zolman settled down after the rough start, retiring nine of the next 10 hitters, seven via strikeout.
The Tinora bats came out in the bottom of the third. Leadoff hitter Anna Frazier started the two run rally, reaching on an error. After a Frazier steal, Devona Holmes smashed a single to center, scoring Frazier, giving Tinora a 2-1 lead. Lady Rams first baseball Paige Carpenter singled in Holmes, giving the Lady Rams a 3-1 lead after three innings.
With Tinora’s Zolman back in the grove, the Lady Rams and Lady Bulldogs remained in a tight game, with Tinora still leading 3-1 until the bottom of the sixth.
Lady Rams Paige Carpenter led off the six with a solid single to left. After a Maren Pittman sacrifice, Tinora starter Scylea Zolman singled to left as well. With one out, sophomore shortstop Tegan Norden laced a double to the left center wall, scoring both Carpenter and Sophia Stark who was running for Zolman, the Lady Rams led 5-1.
Brooke Grathman, the Defiance starter, retired the next two Tinora hitters as the teams headed to the top of the seventh.
Defiance sent five batters to the plate in their final at bat, trying to mount a two out rally, but could not crack through vs Zolman. Tinora came away with a 5-1 win over the Bulldogs.
Zolman’s night ended with her striking out 13 batters, while picking up her second win of the season.
Tinora improves to 2-1, the Lady rams will travel to Elmwood Tuesday.
Defiance suffers their first loss, falling to 3-1. They will host Ottawa Glandorf Tuesday.
The Higbea Embroidery player of the game went to Lady Rams starter, Scylea Zolman. Congratulations Scylea.
Jerry Latta photos of the game:
https://www.jerrylatta.biz/Tinora-High-School/Tinora-Softball-04-04-2022
