Dale leads Pirates on Senior Night

PERKINS TWP. — Karah Dale delivered on Senior Night. The Perkins senior hit a two-run home run to give her team a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning, then scorched a ball to center field in the sixth that brought home what proved to be the winning run in a 5-4 decision against Huron on Wednesday. The game was tied 2-2 in the fifth when Dale, who struck out and popped out in her first two plate appearances, dug in. Dale's home run to left-center — her first this season — scored fellow senior Kendall Zeiher to give Perkins a two-run lead. "I was actually really nervous," Dale said. "I was on deck and (Perkins coach) Scott (Dickman) just told me to have fun, it's your Senior Night. My first two at-bats were in my head, and I went up, took a deep breath and whacked the ball. "I didn't think it was gonna go over, but it did." Dickman said the win was great therapy for his team after losing 7-5 to Bellevue in a sectional opener a day earlier on the same field. "I was so happy for them, especially after last night," Dickman said. "That was hard and we were all upset. We got out here today and I told them to relax and have fun — win or lose, enjoy what we're doing." That consistent message helped Dale succeed in a key moment. "I said relax and hit the ball," Dickman said. "I looked up and there it goes. Super happy for her." Huron (15-8) tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth. Singles by Jayci Schmidt, Annabelle Herzog and Lanee Orzech loaded the bases with nobody out. Rylie Dehn's 1-out sacrifice fly made it 4-3 and a Perkins error brought in Herzog to tie the game. Schmidt went 3 for 4 and scored two runs for the Tigers. Orzech went 2 for 3 with a home run that gave Huron a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Schmidt singled and scored on the blast. With the game tied again in the bottom of the sixth, Ar'Ciele Oglesby-Riddle led off with an infield hit and advanced to second on the throw. Riddle went to third on a groundout before Dale ripped a shot to center. Schmidt, a standout defender, jumped and the ball glanced off her glove. Riddle scored to make it 5-4. "I thought it was gonna go a lot farther," Dale said. "Jayci was out there and she would've made a beautiful catch. Her effort, I love it." Riddle and Korrin Garner each added two hits for the Pirates (11-12). Huron got a one-out double from Lucy Hinners in the top of the seventh, but third baseman Garner snagged a line drive for the second out and senior pitcher Addi Obermeyer fielded a ground ball and threw to Dale at first base to end the game. Overmeyer struck out eight and walked only one to get the win in the circle. "Addi pitched really well," Dickman said. "The off-speed was keeping them off-balance and they couldn't center her up." Afterward, Perkins' seniors enjoyed some hugs and quality time with parents and teammates. "It's awesome. I'm so excited," Dale said. "I'm gonna miss every one of these girls. I love this game so much." Huron 200 002 0 — 4 8 2Perkins 020 021 x — 5 10 1 WP: Obermeyer. LP: Holeman 2B: (H) Hinners; (P) Hawkins. HR: (H) Orzech; (P) Dale