Last modified: Friday, April 4, 2008 11:22 AM PDT
Ray Rodriguez | Argus Observer Vale shortstop Sam Kamo (left) avoids the slide by New Plymouth’s Alisha Shipman in her attempt to complete a double play Thursday during non-league action in Vale. New Plymouth defeated Vale 1-0.

Pilgrims blank Vale 1-0

Argus Observer Sports Staff

Vale — New Plymouth pitcher Whitney Hodges struck out 10, walked none and tossed a complete game one hitter to lead the Pilgrims to a 1-0 win over Vale in non-league softball action Wednesday in Vale.

Hodges was in a zone and kept the Lady Viking hitters off-balanced all game long. From the third through the sixth innings, Hodges retired all 12 batters she faced and struck out five.

The only hit from Vale was a first inning single by Sam Kamo.

“She’s kind of been a hard-luck pitcher this year,” New Plymouth head coach Troy Knapp said. “She pitched every bit as good in Melba Tuesday, it’s just we gave her no support. We barely gave her enough support tonight to get the win. She’s definitely keeping us in there, while our hits our missing.”

The Pilgrims provided Hodges with all the offense in the fifth inning.

Jessica Hartzell reached base on an error and advanced to second on a passed ball.

Teammate Deidra Hawker followed with an RBI single to center to give New Plymouth a 1-0 lead.

Alisha Shipman went 3-for-3, Shianne Edmunson went 1-for-4 and Anna Pittman chipped in a 1-for-4 effort from the dish.

Vale hurler Laken Perry tossed a complete game and struck out nine batters in the loss.

New Plymouth (4-5 overall, 0-1 League) hosts Nampa Christian Friday.

Nyssa      10

Weiser      5

WEISER

The Nyssa softball team beat Weiser 10-5 Thursday in Weiser.

Nyssa logged four runs in the second, four in the fourth, two in the fifth and one final run in the sixth.

Weiser brought three runners home in the second, and one each in the fourth and fifth innings.

“Well, we played about five good innings but we had a couple that we didn’t play very well,” Weiser’s softball coach Dale Emert said. “We need to play all seven innings.”

Nelson went 3-for-4 at the plate.

“Oyervides also had a good game,” Emert said. “We walked a few, and we just had a hard time finding the strike zone,” he said.

Weiser hosts Payette at 5 p.m. today.