Southeast tops Central behind Peres

Maddy Peres threw seven innings of shutout ball and USA Southeast (Cape Coral, Fla.) scratched out enough offense to beat USA Central (South Bend, Ind.) 3-0 in the opening game for both teams in the Senior League Softball World Series in Roxana on Sunday, Aug. 7.

Southeast was able to score a run in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff batter Katie Grubb drew a walk off Central’s Kristi Kirkpatrick. Grubb stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before notching the game’s first run when she scored on a bunt single by Meghan Sullivan. That was the only run Southeast needed.

Peres struck out 11 batters, including all three who faced her in the second inning.

In the bottom half of that inning, Southeast plated their other two runs. Sarah Waitekus, who was pinch-running for Jessica Nuccio, scored the second run of the day for Southeast on a wild pitch, and Sierra Myers knocked in Mallory Gerrero with a two-out bunt hit to wrap up the game’s scoring.

Central put a little scare into Southeast in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Jamie Young reached on a bunt and moved to second on a clean hit to center by Cassie Young. Morgan Alison then walked to load the bases, but Peres got out of trouble with a groundout. She also allowed two baserunners in the seventh inning but struck out Emily Van Tornhout to end the game.

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