The 13th annual softball vs. wrestling game, ended the same way it has for the last 11 years, with the softball team on top.
The Mavericks softball team was firing on all cylinders against the men’s wrestling team, as they had a no-hitter until the final inning and won the game 10-3. The proceeds of the game go to a local charity benefitting Kids Aid Backpack. Coach Travis Mercado was one of the only bright spots for the wrestling team with a hit to put them in scoring position and plenty of outs.
“For the people who came out and watched, I think it’s good for the community, but the best thing about it is, it gets our two teams together, wrestling and softball, it just has a good relationship to it all,” CMU wrestling Head Coach Chuck Pipher said.
The top of the first inning was a tough one for the Mavericks wrestlers as the pitcher Paige Adair stuck out the first three batters easily. The bottom of the first inning wasn’t any better for the wrestlers, as the softball team got a quick first two runs against Adair.
The second inning was more of the same for the softball team as they would go up 4-0, and they didn’t allow a hit again to continue their domination. Coach Mercado hadn’t yet got up to the plate as the wrestlers because they were looking for the perfect opportunity to get him on the plate to drive some runs in.
“We tried to get some guys on base and then get him up there but we couldn’t get enough guys on base, so we probably could’ve used him early but we just couldn’t ever get anybody on base for him to get it out there,” Pipher said.
In the third inning, the softball team continued to dominate, but the wrestlers continued to put their entire team in the outfield to try to limit the number of chances for runs for the softball team. The lady Mavericks stayed on pace and added two more runs with a giant two run home run, but they couldn’t continue the run in the inning.
The fourth inning was a little bit interesting as both teams switched to slow pitch which seemed to benefit the softball team more than the wrestling team. The wrestlers continued to swing at everything, but they finally got on base with the slow pitch as Hunter Mooring ended the no-hitter.
“I said if they are getting around on it, just throw it high and they always chase it high. As fun as it is, we do like to win and we do like to have that to go back into the office tomorrow, but we were telling our pitches to throw it about chest high, they’ll swing through it usually,” CMU Head Softball Coach Erik Kozel.
In the fifth inning, the softball team added their final two runs in the inning to take the lead 10-0, and the wrestlers couldn’t get on base this inning.
The final inning was when the wrestling team put it all together, and after they got one on base, they sent up their ringer: Travis Mercado. With Mercado at the plate, he was patient and waited for his pitch, and when it came, he drilled it and moved his runner up to third. The next batter came up and batted both runners in, and shortly after the wrestlers added their third run of the game, but Brooke Doumer ended the game with a big diving catch.
“My favorite part of this game is being with my team and creating that family atmosphere,” Doumer said.
