WHEATLAND – The Torrington High School Lady Blazers softball team battled back from a loss to the Wheatland Lady Bulldogs in the first game of an away double-header on Monday, May 6, to defeat Wheatland in the second game.

The Torrington offense struggled to find traction in the first game with Wheatland winning, 16-0.

Digging deep, the Lady Blazers fired back to capture the victory in the second game, 9-4, anchored by a grand slam from sophomore Rein Coulson.

Game 1

Wheatland set the pace in the first and second innings, tallying six and four runs, respectively, while shutting out the Torrington offense. An additional six runs by the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth inning sealed the win for Wheatland.

The Lady Blazers tallied three hits in the first game, with one apiece by freshman Olivia Meyer, sophomore Aftyn Hager and freshman Makayla Burkart.

Junior Kennedy Reinhardt opened as pitcher for Torrington, striking out five over three innings. Freshman Jadah Jacobson played relief.

Game 2

The first inning between Torrington and Wheatland ended with the Lady Bulldogs up, 1-0.

The Lady Blazers responded in the top of the second inning with one run to tie the game, 1-1, when Burkart singled for one RBI.

Torrington’s fielders stepped up in the bottom of the second inning to prevent Wheatland from reaching home. Freshman Shaylyn Wunder fielded a grounder at second base, tossing the ball to Coulson at shortstop for the out. Freshman Emily Audette fielded a fly ball in right field. Wheatland sent a grounder to sophomore Kadence Schamel at third base. Schamel threw the ball to Reinhardt at first base for the third out.

The Lady Blazers pulled ahead, 3-1, with two additional runs in the top of the third inning. Coulson singled, driving in one, while Schamel ran home on a wild pitch.

Torrington’s fielders again shut out the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the third. Shaylyn Wunder fielded a pop fly at second base. Wheatland grounded out to Schamel at third with Schamel tossing the ball to Reinhardt at first. Jacobson struck out the third runner.

The Lady Blazers took control of the scoreboard with five runs in the top of the fourth. Meyer opened with a single for one RBI.

Coulson stepped up to bat with the bases loaded. The sophomore blasted a homer into right field, driving Audette, Meyer and Schamel home before rounding the bases.

Wheatland came up scoreless against a solid Torrington defense in the bottom of the fourth. Audette fielded a fly ball in right field while sophomore Macauley McIntosh caught two consecutive pop flies in left field.

The Lady Bulldogs attempted to close the gap with one run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth, but the effort was too little, too late.

The Lady Blazers collected 10 hits against Wheatland in the second game. Coulson paced the Torrington offense with two hits for five RBI. Meyer, Schamel and Coulson each recorded two hits with one apiece by Reinhardt and Audette.

Jacobson pitched for Torrington for six inning, striking out one.