By Dan Messerschmidt
CCN Sports Director

BUCYRUS — Bucyrus had a makeup game left with archrival Wynford, but much more than bragging rights were on the line.

The Lady Redmen needed to win to secure a share of the Northern 10 Athletic Conference softball title.

Behind the one-hit pitching of Caleigh Rister and some timely hitting, Bucyrus accomplished the goal with a 7-0 victory over the Royals. The league championship was the first for the Redmen since 2014.

“Our freshman pitcher went back-to-back (games) for the first time this year,” Bucyrus coach Pudge Hargis said of Rister. “For her to do that is pretty outstanding.”

Rister fanned 12 with no walks. She was one clean single —by Wynford’s Madie Wagner in the fourth inning — away from a perfect game.

“She was on and when she’s on, she’s very, very tough to hit,” Wynford coach Jamee Burke said. “There were a couple of times we put the ball in play. Madie had a nice single to break up the perfect game. But she was dealing tonight.”

The win was a fitting sendoff for the Redmen seniors — Izzy Burling, Brooklyn Spears and Abigail Hart — which returned Bucyrus (16-6, 13-3 N10) to the championship status that has been a reasonable expectation for decades.

“We go out as seniors with our graduation year on the banner in the gym,” Burling said.

“It’s nice to finally break through, you know,” Spears said. “We’ve been in the N10 for four years now and to finally grasp on to that N10 title as we’re leaving sets them up for the confidence to come back where they can get it again.”

The Redmen have one state softball title to go with their numerous league championships, including three North Central Conference titles in a row from 2012-14.

“We walked through the gym and I asked them to look up and tell me what you see,” Hargis said. “I didn’t say a word. I heard one of the seniors say, ‘We want our picture up there.’ Senior leadership — you can’t buy it. The kids do it.”

Hannah Messmer kept Wynford (9-14, 4-12) in it for five innings, despite some shaky defense behind her. The Royals committed six errors leading to six unearned runs by the Redmen. Messmer finished with four strikeouts and two walks, while giving up six hits.

“We preach throw ground balls and the defense will be there,” Burke said. “It’s an emotional day for both teams. It’s the last day these seniors will lace up those cleats in a Royals’ uniform. I know they were feeling that. I think those nerves got to us.”

The Redmen got on the board in the first. Rister tripled with one out and scored when Burling was safe on an error.

Bucyrus got two more in the second. Jade Torres was safe on an error leading off. With two outs, Lauren Kohler tripled to plate Torres and Kohler scored on another Royals’ miscue.

“We can run the bases, we have some good foot speed,” Hargis said. “The amazing about it is our smartness. Overall, we’re pretty softball smart.”

With Rister tossing zeroes, that was more than enough. But the Redmen finished with a bang, scoring four insurance runs in the sixth.

A walk to Spears started the inning and Ni’Georia Floyd sacrificed her to second. A Torres double, Kohler single and Rister’s second triple got the runs home.

Rister had three hits including the two triples, Kohler tripled and singled and Torres doubled to lead the Bucyrus offense.

“Congratulations to them, it’s awesome for them to split (the N10 title),” Burke, who herself was on a championship team at Bucyrus in 2007, said. “I’ve been there, on this field, so I know the feeling.”

“I can’t say enough about these seniors,” Hargis said. “These girls — we’ve got three of them — all have been leaders and have done some great things for us.”

“Pudge just has to get someone who is live Olive Oil (Spears) over at first and set up the pitchers (Burling) behind the plate,” Burling said.

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Wynford    000 000 0      0    1    6

Bucyrus     120 004 X      7    6    0

WP: Caleigh Rister (12 SO, 0 W)

LP: Hannah Messmer (4 SO, 2 W)

HR: None.

Triples: (B) Caleigh Rister 2, Lauren Kohler.

Doubles: (B) Jade Torres.

Multiple hits: (B) Caleigh Rister 3, Lauren Kohler.

Records: Wynford 9-14 (4-12 N10); Bucyrus 16-6 (13-3 N10).

Next: Both teams season over.