WHEATLAND - The Wheatland High School Lady Bulldogs Varsity traveled to Cheyenne for a double-header against Cheyenne Central last Friday.
The Bulldogs displayed their level of competitiveness when both their offensive and defensive attacks aligned.
According to head coach Jodie Fitzwater, they demonstrated how well they can work as a team and held the Indians to a handful of runs.
“The Bulldogs have completed multiple double plays over the course of the season and added several more during this outing,” she said. “In game one, we fought hard against a top competitor in the East Conference by pushing them to a full seven inning game.”
The Lady Bulldogs fell behind early in the game and could not overcome the Indians in an 8 to 5 loss. Mackenzie Lockman was on the mound for the Bulldogs, allowing only 10 hits and striking out three. In the seventh inning, the Bulldogs gained momentum by scoring 3 hits off a monster hit by Rylee Coates. Coates was about 1 foot away from hitting her second grand slam home run of the season, but it hit the top of the fence and landed back in fair territory.
The Lady Bulldogs racked up eight hits on the day, with Mackenzie Lockman and Rylee Coates leading the team with two hits each. Both Lockman and Jayden McDaniel hit a triple during the game. Lockman, Coates, and Sidney Stearns also all hit a double during the game. Coates also led the team in stolen bases for the day with one.
In game two against the Indians, the Lady Bulldogs ended the game in a tie with a score of 3 to 3. Eleni McKee was on the mound for the Bulldogs only allowing five hits, striking out six and walking four. Macy Jones led the team offensively by going 2 for 2 during the game. Hunter Sisson had a double while Lola Philo, Grace Battershell, and Lockman all had singles in the game. Battershell led the team in stolen bases for the day with one.
The Lady Bulldogs hosted their last home game against Cheyenne East for their last Varsity games of the season.
“You always know this day will come and think you are prepared for the season to come to an end, but that honestly is not the case,” Fitzwater said. “It was hard for the Lady Bulldogs to play their last games with the outgoing seniors, Gracen Mount, Ashlynn Huffer and Sidney Stearns. Emma McGee, another senior, was absent for the last games due to a National Band Competition in California. All of these ladies will forever have a place in the Lady Bulldogs hearts.”
Between the games, the Bulldogs hosted their first ever Teacher Appreciation Day in which each player invited a teacher who has made a strong impact in their lives over the years. It was truly spectacular to see the wide variety of teachers that represented various levels of education from the players' lives.
“We would like to send a special thanks out to Dixie Mount and Erin Coates for spearheading this event for the team and making it happen,” said Fitzwater.
During the first game against the Thunderbirds, the Lady Bulldogs fell behind and could not come back in a 13-1 loss. The Bulldogs struggled to contain the high-powered offense of East and had perhaps their worst defensive game of the season, as they struggled to cleanly field balls and catch routine pop flies that in the past were usually an automatic putout.
“It is always hard to watch as a coach, because you truly know how well they can play,” Fitzwater said.
Lockman and Coates led the team offensively with Lockman going 2-for-3 and Coates going 1-for-3 during the game. Lockman was on the mound for the Bulldogs allowing 15 hits, two base on balls, and 5 strikeouts. In the second game, the Lady Bulldogs fell again to the Thunderbirds by a score of 7 to 1.
The Bulldogs struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing East, giving up 10 hits. Battershell and Sisson each managed one hit to lead the Bulldogs offensively. Battershell also led the team with stolen bases during the game which allowed her to score the only run on a sacrifice fly to leftfield by Jayden McDaniel. Eleni McKee was on the mound for the Bulldogs, allowing only 8 hits, striking out two and walking three. The Lady Bulldog’s second season will officially come to an end Tuesday after they play a JV double header in Laramie against the Lady Plainsmen.
