Decatur loses close game to Omaha in softball

Photo by Mike Eckels Decatur’s Cameron Shaffer gets ready to deliver a pitch during the Bulldogs’ opening softball game against Omaha April 7 at Edmiston Softball Field in Decatur.
Photo by Mike Eckels Decatur’s Cameron Shaffer gets ready to deliver a pitch during the Bulldogs’ opening softball game against Omaha April 7 at Edmiston Softball Field in Decatur.

DECATUR -- The Edmiston Ball Park was alive with the sound of baseball and softball April 7 as all three fields were in use simultaneously for the first time in a year. Besides the Bulldog varsity baseball team at the big ball field, the Bulldog fast-pitch softball team was in action on the softball field. The youth softball program was practicing at the youth field, and the eight and under Decatur girls' softball team was waiting in the wings to play at the conclusion of the Bulldog softball game.

This was the opening game of the 2017 softball season for the Bulldog softball team as they played the Omaha Eagles in a 1A conference contest.

On the mound for the Bulldogs was veteran pitcher Cameron Shaffer in her final season of her high school career. Behind the plate was Desi Meek in her first appearance as Decatur catcher.

The Bulldogs found themselves down by four in the top of the second inning. That changed in the bottom of the inning when four runners crossed the plate on two errors by the Eagle infield to tie the game at 4-4.

In the top of the third, Omaha regained a six-point lead on a series of fielding errors by Decatur, giving Omaha a 10-4 lead.

At the top of the seventh, the Eagles held a 16-10 lead but another series of errors allowed Omaha to extend its lead to 21-10. In the bottom of the seventh, the Omaha pitcher began to falter, throwing several wild pitches and allowing the Bulldogs to fill the bases. A relief pitcher also struggled to get the ball over the plate, allowing four runs for the Bulldogs. Decatur scored two more runs before a fly ball to the shortstop ended the contest with Omaha taking the victory, 21-16.

The Decatur Bulldog fast-pitch softball team will travel to Jasper April 11 for a 4 p.m. contest against the Jasper Pirates. The Bulldogs return home April 18 in a doubleheader against the Eureka Springs Highlanders at Edmiston Softball Field. First game starts at 4 p.m., with the second scheduled for 5:15 p.m. This game may be rescheduled to April 13.

For more information on the remaining games or rescheduled contests, go to decatursd.com/athletics.

Sports on 04/12/2017