Republic and Kickapoo locked horns in a defensive struggle Thursday night. When the dust settled, Kickapoo escaped with a 1-0 victory.
The game’s lone run crossed the plate in the third inning. Kickapoo’s Madison Akers worked a walk, stole second, and scored on a one-out single by Ellie Shevey off Republic starter Piper Dishman.
Dishman went toe-to-toe with Kickapoo’s high-powered offense for four innings. She allowed just four hits, striking out one and walking one. Kara Goeke took over in the fifth, scattering four hits over three scoreless frames while fanning two.
But Kickapoo’s Allison Scott was just a little bit better. She fired a complete-game shutout, striking out six and allowing five hits.
Republic threatened early. Paige Elsenraat was hit by a pitch in the first and Dishman followed with a double. The rally fizzled when Elsenraat was tagged out between third and home.
The Lady Tigers kept pressing. Ashland Schaumann singled to lead off the third and reached second on a sacrifice, but couldn’t advance further. Republic put runners on second in the fourth and sixth innings. Addie Brown’s leadoff single in the seventh sparked hope, but Kickapoo’s defense held firm.
“Our girls showed some guts,” Republic coach Lee Dishman said. “Our pitchers did an outstanding job against a great offense. I mean, if you look at the scores they’ve had throughout the year, they’ve scored multiple runs all throughout the year, and our pitchers competed, our defense competed.”
Dishman took responsibility for the first-inning baserunning mishap. “Honestly, I blew it in the first inning by getting Paige thrown out at third,” he said.
The loss drops Republic to 14-8, while 19-5 Kickapoo continues its impressive season. Despite the setback, Dishman remains confident.
“We’re going to see them again,” he said, “and we’ll get them.”