Lady Oracles sweep Carroll
By John Dunn Contributing Sportswriter

Delphi girls' softball head coach Randy German received a couple of unexpected surprises in the last two weeks - relatively easy victories in the annual home-and-home series played against its county-rival.

For each of German's first two seasons, this series has featured games that are closely played, well-pitched, with a key hit here or there determining the outcome, usually in the later innings.

Although the rematch on Monday night was closer to the norm, the Lady Oracles (8-2) were never seriously threatened after jumping in front 1-0 in their first at-bat and never trailing in the contest, out-hitting the Cougars 11-3 en route to the 4- 1 victory.

Delphi's pitching duo of Amanda Schultz (3-0) and Brittney Atwood (2nd save) combined to strikeout 10 hitters, allowing the lone unearned run with two outs during Carroll's final at-bat.

For the seventh time in the nine games that she has batted lead-off this season, Oracle freshman Whitney Arion got a hit and scored a run in Delphi's first at-bat, setting the stage early in both contests.

Emily Kayser enjoyed her best offensive performance of the year, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Arion went 2-for-3, including a game-breaking 2- RBI triple in the 4th inning that extended the lead to 3-0.

Delphi reached double-figures in hits for the eighth time in its first 10 outings and no Oracle batter struck out in the game, marking the third time in the young season that this has occurred.

Carroll's Krystal Brazel had two of the three Cougar hits, with Katie Cavazos adding a hit and an RBI.

In the first match-up played April 14 in Flora, the Lady Oracles dominated the young Cougars from the onset. They scored in each of the five innings played under the 10-run rule, starting with three in the top of the 1st en route to setting season-highs in both runs scored and hits (17) in the 17-1 one-sided victory.

Arion led the way with a 3- for-3 performance at the plate with three runs scored, followed by Atwood, who went 3-of-4 with a double and 3 RBIs and Kristina Barnard who was 3- for-5 with 3 RBIs and three runs scored.

Freshmen Carli Rouhier and Chanler Norman each went 2- for-4, with Rouhier pounding two doubles, collecting 2 RBIs and adding two runs scored, while Norman added an RBI.

Atwood earned the victory on the mound with a two-hitter, striking out seven and only allowing an unearned run.

Freshman Quinci Eller and sophomore Emily Fritz had the only two hits for the Cougars.

Carroll (2-10) traveled to CC for a double-header Tuesday night (too late for print), before returning home to host Northwestern on Friday at 4:30 p.m., to be followed by road games at Tri-County on Saturday at 10 a.m. and at Frontier on Monday at 4:30. They will host Clinton Central for a twin-bill next Tuesday at 4:45 p.m.

In the last two weeks, Delphi beat previously undefeated Tri- County by a score of 9-4, lost at undefeated conference-foe Benton Central, ranked #7 in Class 3A, 13-3, and then won the rematch against BC last Tuesday 10-7 and won at Pioneer 10-4 last Wednesday.

At Tri-County

The Lady Oracles battled the cold and blustery winds that have become the expectation at Remington Park during their victory over the Cavaliers.

Arion and Rouhier each had three hits, including a double apiece, with Rouhier adding 2 RBIs and a run scored and Arion one RBI and two runs scored to lead Delphi in its 10- hit attack.

Atwood also went 2-for-3 at the plate, striking out six and allowing only five hits and two earned runs.

Vs. Benton Central

Delphi gained a measure of revenge over the visiting Bison by scoring five runs in its first a-bat and never relinquishing the early lead.

Schultz and Brittany Tyner each went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs to lead a 12-hit Oracle assault, with Rouhier adding two hits, including an RBI double.

Schultz earned the victory on the mound with Atwood recording her first save of the season.

In the first contest, it was the BC that jumped ahead with four runs in the bottom of the 1st to set the tone early.

For the first time this season, the highly-touted Delphi offense was held in check with only five hits and a season-high 12 strikeouts.

Entering the contest, the Lady Oracles had only struck out six times total through their first six games.

Arion and Norman, along with Schultz and Kayla Yates and Leslie Kayser each had a single for Delphi, with Arion, Schultz and Barnard collecting an RBI.

At Pioneer

The Lady Oracles used a 6- run 7th inning to put away the Panthers. With the score tied at four entering the final inning, Delphi's first seven batters reached base safely during the 6-hit at-bat sparked by Arion's double and L. Kayser's 2-RBI.

Rouhier and L. Kayser each went 3-of-4 with a double apiece to pace the 13-hit onslaught, with Rouhier adding an RBI of her own.

Norman finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, along with Arion who was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs.

Atwood (5-2) went the distance on the mound, striking out nine against only one walk & two earned runs.

The Lady Oracles played a re-scheduled game at West Lafayette Tuesday night (too late for print), then open a fivegame home-stand against the Red Devils on Wednesday at 5 p.m., followed by a Twin Lakes double-header Saturday at 10 a.m., Rossville on Monday at 4:30 p.m. and conference-foe Sheridan on Tuesday at 5 p.m.