By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan

If you’re a softball fan looking for action, Iverson Park was the place to be Thursday night.

The second game of the triple-header in the Portage County Women’s Fall League was a blowout as Johnny and the Bootleggers crushed Two Harps, 20-0. However, the remaining two games were awesome thrillers.

The undefeated Rookie’s Royals (5-0) barely beat Star Struck, 4-3, in the final game of the evening. And in the first nail-biter, Readie Meyer’s double in the bottom of the seventh earned Star Struck a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Morey’s.

Morey’s (1-3) scored two runs in the top of the first on three walks and a single by Jean Higdon. Star Struck (2-3) got one run in the second when Shae Kellner walked and came home on Karli Homann’s triple. Star Struck scored two more runs in the fourth when Kellner and Homann tallied following singles by Meredith Sikorski and Brianna O’Donnell; 3-2 Star Struck after five in a defensive battle.

Brittany Spindler walked and scored on Laura Waltenburg’s single to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. Then came the seventh. Jean Higdon of Morey’s singled and advanced to second on Harlie Piotrowski’s single. She moved to third on Brittany Spindler’s walk and scored the lead run when Cori Garski also walked. Cori set an Iverson Park record by walking an incredible five times.

So Star Struck came to bat trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Stephanie Lynne (who also played an outstanding third base) led off with a booming double to left. Chelsey Zarecki then doubled to drive in Stephanie and tie the game at 4-4.

The crowd was roaring and in a frenzy as Readie Meyer came to the plate. Readie fouled off the first pitch and blasted the next one deep to left. She pulled into second with a double as Chelsey raced home from second with the winning run. The Star Struck dugout emptied as the entire team ran out onto the field to mob Chelsey at home plate.

Star Struck outhit Morey’s, 10 to 6. Morey’s collected 10 walks against two Star Struck hurlers.

Morey’s Batting Stats: Brittany Spindler: single, two walks; Candice Williams: walk; Cori Garski: five walks; Laura Waltenburg: single; Heather Sevcik: two walks; Jean Higdon: two singles; Harlie Piotrowski: two singles.

Star Struck Batting Stats: Chelsey Zarecki: single, double, scored winning run; Readie Meyer: game-winning double; Kaitkyn Knutson: walk (made good plays at second); Brittany Zarecki: walk, single; Shae Kellner: walk, two runs; Karli Homann: two triples, run; Meredith Sikorski: two singles; Brianna O’Donnell: walk, single; Stephanie Lynne: double, run.

The second game was pretty much decided in the first ten minutes as Johnny and the Bootleggers (4-1) clobbered Two Harps (0-4), 20-0, in four innings. The Bootleggers had 28 hits, including nine doubles while the Harps came up with six singles. The Bootleggers first-inning attack included Hailee Fuller’s triple and single, a double and single by Liz Morrison and Cheyenne Hahn, a double by Kayla Keepers, and singles by Mak Lee, winning pitcher Kristin Felts, Dana Krug, and Kara Sleeter.

Their eight-run first was followed by four more runs in the second on consecutive hits by Felts, Krug, Stacey Zarecki, Keepers, Sleeter, and Nicole Ihrcke. The winners added five more doubles and six singles in the final two innings. Kristin Felts, Dana Krug, and Kayla Keepers had four hits each. Two Harps was led by Toni Gaddo and Alishea Johnson with a couple of hits.NOTE: In the second inning, Bootleggers’ manager Cheyenne Hahn was put on double secret probation by the home plate umpire for digging a hole in the batter’s box.

Two Harps Batting Stats: Toni Gaddo: two singles; Sara Cunningham: single; Alishea Johnson: two hits; Harlie Piotrowski: single; Brooke Sprecher: walk.

Johnny & The Bootleggers Batting Stats: Hailee Fuller: triple, single; Liz Morrison: double, single; Cheyenne Hahn: double, single; Mak Lee: single, two doubles; Kristin Felts: four singles; Dana Krug: single, three doubles; Stacey Zarecki: three singles; Kayla Keepers: double, three singles; Kara Sleeter: two singles, double; Nicole Ihrcke: single.

The final game of the night was a real doozie as the undefeated Rookie’s Royals (5-0) barely beat an inspired Star Struck (2-4), 4-3. Karli Homann was outstanding at short for the Strucks, and Rookie’s entire team was great on defense for the winners. Both teams really flashed the leather in the first three innings of a scoreless game.

Star Struck finally got on the board with three runs in the top of the fourth on singles by Sarah Gray, Stephanie Lynne, Chelsey Zarecki, and Kaitlyn Knutson plus Brianna O’Donnell’s walk. Rookie’s scored one run in the bottom of the fourth on singles by Bailey Hinderman, Samantha Zommers, and winning pitcher Beke Blue. Rookie’s player at third base, Jacci Seefeldt, also hit what might be the longest foul ball in Iverson park history.

The Royal’s went ahead for good, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth as they scored three runs. Singles by Becky Kurszewski, Amy Kurszewski, and Samantha Zommers and Jacci Seefeldt’s long triple highlighted the rally. Beke Blue of Rookie’s commented: “Geez, Star Struck was really fired up and gave us all we could handle. They played a great game.” Star Struck actually outhit the winners 13 to 12.

Note: Harlie Piotrowski set a league record by playing in all three games. She had two singles for Morey’s, a base hit for Two Harps (plus three catches), and a single for Rookie’s Royals.

Star Struck Batting Stats: Chelsey Zarecki: single, walk; Readie Meyer: two singles; Kaitlyn Knutson: two singles; Karli Homann: single; Meredith Sikorski: two singles; Shae Kellner: single; Sarah Gray: two singles; Stephanie Lynne: two singles; Brianna O’Donnell: two walks.

Rookie’s Royals Batting Stats: Becky Kurszewski: single; Katie Steinbach: single, double, good shortstop; Amy Kurszewski: two singles; Jacci Seefeldt: big triple; foul ball to left that’s still rolling); Bailey Hinderman: single; Samantha Zommers: three singles; Valerie Folan: walk; Beke Blue: single; Harlie Piotrowski: single.