By Dan Messerschmidt
CCN Sports Director

CAREY — On Monday, Bucyrus handed Carey its first Northern 10 Athletic Conference loss and drew within one game of the league lead.

The Lady Blue Devils had revenge in mind when the Lady Redmen showed up for the rematch on Wednesday.

Carey jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and that was enough for pitcher Blayc Hacker as the Blue Devils retained their N10 lead with a 6-1 victory.

“We knew going in we had to play our best defense to redeem ourselves from our fist game with them and put the offense into play,” Carey coach Teresa Gillig said.

The Blue Devils committed three errors in Monday’s 6-5 loss at Bucyrus (12-4, 10-3 N10), compared to just one on Wednesday.

“I really thought that they deserved to win the ball game,” Bucyrus coach Jerry Hargis said. “They outplayed us. But I’m very proud of our kids and the way our kids handled the situation.”

Redmen pitcher Caleigh Rister uncharacteristically had control issues early in the game, walking the first two Carey (15-3, 10-4) batters. Both Bry Curlis and Hailey Niederkohr scored on a clutch, two-out single by Hannah Lonsway.

Bucyrus got one back in the top of the third when Lauren Kohler laced a one-out triple over the right-fielder’s head. One out later, Izzy Burling brought home Kohler with a single.

From there, Hacker gave up just one more hit and faced two over the minimum for the last four innings in blanking the Redmen.

“I think we were working together well as a team,” Hacker said. “Our offense and defense were both really good. We were really pumped up for this game.”

The Blue Devils answered Bucyrus’ run with three in the bottom of the third to erase all doubt as to the outcome.

Hacker reached on a two-base error and Felicite Smith was intentionally walked. Lonsway was safe on an error, which also allowed Hacker to score.

Smith came across on a second error on the same play and Lonsway scored on a double by Bridget Mullholand to make it 5-1.

“What we’ve done in the past is not make those mistakes,” Hargis said. “With this wind out there, I don’t know if our kids have played in a position like this with the wind blowing so hard.”

“Tonight, the wind worked to our advantage again,” Gillig said. “It’s worked for us a couple of times this year.

“The wind was big,” Gillig continued. “A lot of these that probably would have been caught, the wind helped carry them away a little bit and they fell for a hit and helped us score some runs.”

Carey tacked on a run in the sixth when Niederkohr homered into the teeth of the wind in right-center to set the final score.

Mullholand led the Blue Devils with two doubles and Niederkohr had the tater. Hacker, Lonsway, Caitie Carter and Mary Racheter singled. Hacker fanned 10 and walked only one in the circle, while limiting the Redmen to four hits.

Rister struck out seven and walked four for Bucyrus, surrendering seven hits. Two of her six runs were unearned.

Burling had two hits and drove in the only Bucyrus run and Kohler tripled and scored the lone run. Haley Dye added a single.

“We didn’t hit the ball well and Caleigh didn’t pitch well,” Hargis said. “This is a learning experience for everybody out there and I admire our kids for that.”

With a two-game lead and three league games to play, the Blue Devils control their own destiny.

“(Blayc) pitched a really good game tonight and the defense worked behind her,” Gillig said. “It was a great team win.

“They have to stay focused. They have to go into all three games and take it one game at a time,” Gillig added. “We have to take this off the field tonight and take it into the next game.”

Carey has two games left with Seneca East and one with Upper Sandusky.

“We’re not done yet. We’re going to make a little noise in the tournament,” Hargis said. “I don’t know how much yet, but the season isn’t over yet.

“Our kids are going to play a hard, they’re playing for each other,” Hargis said. “This was not our highlight game, but it was a good learning experience for us.”

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Bucyrus      001 000 0       1    4     3

Carey          203 001 X       6    7     1

WP: Blayc Hacker (10 SO, 1 W)

LP: Caleigh Rister (7 SO, 4 W)

HR: (C) Hailey Niederkohr (solo, sixth inning).

Triples: (B) Lauren Kohler.

Doubles: (C) Bridget Mullholand 2.

Multiple hits: (B) Izzy Burling; (C) Bridget Mullholand.

Records: Bucyrus 12-4 (10-3 N10); Carey 15-3 (12-1 N10).

Next: Ridgedale at Bucyrus, Saturday; Vanlue at Carey, Thursday.