S. Range-Girard on hold

By TOM WILLIAMS

williams@vindy.com

LISBON

Girard High softball catcher Melissa Weitzman has given South Range baserunners plenty to think about when they resume play today.

Tuesday’s Division III district semifinal game between the Indians and Raiders was suspended because of darkness in the middle of the third inning.

The Raiders lead 3-0, going into the Indians’ third at-bat, but it could have been more. Weitzman helped retire three Raiders who were within 90 feet of scoring.

In the first inning, courtesy runner Lexie Naples was at third when Darrian Yanek hit a flyball to left fielder Morgan Walters.

Naples raced back to the bag, tagged and was thrown at the plate to keep the game scoreless.

In the second inning, Kristin Robinson reached third base then was retired by Weitzman in a rundown play. Moments later, Julia Coburn was on third when Weitzman fired the ball to Chelsea Guerrieri for a pickoff.

“She’s a heckuva of a catcher,” South Range coach Don Feren said. “The last one we knew was coming and she still got us. “She has an incredible arm,” Feren said. “She got us back on the bases so we can’t get a big lead. We’ll have to hit the runs in rather than squeeze them in.”

The Raiders scored three times in their third at-bat. Gab Naples hit a one-out double and scored on Laura Biroschak’s double. Three consecutive errors gave the Raiders two more runs and prompted the umpires to halt play.