The Wayne Dirt Devils 18-under softball team claimed runner-up honors at the Wahoo Invitational over the weekend.
Wayne went 4-0 to reach the championship final, where they lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Stampede.
In Saturday’s opening day of action, Wayne beat Express Maple 23 (10-1) WDSA (5-1) and Fairbury Elite (13-3) to reach the semifinals.
In the first game, Delaney Kruse scored three times and Kierah Haase, Rylin Hall and Reagan McGuire each scored twice, with Jordyn Gamble notching a run and three RBIs. Sammi Gubbles pitched three innings for the win.
Against WDSA, Gubbels and Kruse both doubled to highlight as six-hit effort. Kruse, Haase, McGuire, Gamble and Liberty Titml all scored runs and Gubbels struck out seven and allowed four hits in six innings for the win.
In the win over Fairbury, a seven-run first inning led to the easy win. Serenity Heil-Ellis had two hits and three RBIs and Haase and Hall both drove in two runs for the winners. Gamble allowed three htis and three walks and struck out three for the win.
On Sunday, Wayne beat the Nebraska Blitz 6-5 to get to the finals.
Wayne came from behind with three runs in the fifth to earn the big win. Gubbels singled to left and a throwing error helped McGuire score the winning run.
Gubbels and Haase had two hits in the win and McGuire scored two runs. Gubbels got the win in the pitcher’s circle with four strikeouts.
In the championship game, Wayne scored two in the second to lead 2-1, but the Stampede matched that in the third and made the one-run lead stand up for the win.
Ellis and Gubbels both had two hits and Gubbels drove in both runs for Wayne, scoring Caitlyn Mostek and Haase. She took the tough-luck pitching loss despite allowing one hit and one walk while striking out for.
