By Brad Greer

Grayson Sims was not perfect in North Delta’s home opening victory over Kirk Tuesday. She did not have to be.

The sophomore right-hander allowed one hit over five innings while receiving plenty of run support from the Green Wave offense as North Delta hammered Kirk 11-1 in the District 1-AA opener for both schools.

“This was a good way to start off district, but I don’t want to count my eggs before they hatch. We have a long way to go,” said Lady Green Wave head coach Damon Plummer.

“We were able to jump out to a big lead and let some of the younger kids get into the game. Grayson threw a solid game for us tonight. We plan to use her as an off-speed  pitcher while Peyton (Rico) is more of a power type pitcher. We feel very confident in both of those young ladies to get the job done,“ said Plummer.

North Delta, (6-3; 1-0) wasted little time getting on the board as Anna Lloyd led off the bottom of the first with a leadoff triple and later strolled home on a wild pitch to give the Wave a 1-0 lead.

Lloyd proved to be a tough out as the freshman scored three runs which included an inside-the-park home run in the third inning.

“Anna did a great job for us tonight,” Plummer said. “She scored all three times she got on base and that is what you want to see from the leadoff hitter. The good thing about Anna she is a true left-handed batter and a slap-hitter. Those are the kind you need to get on base a lot.“

North Delta put the game away in the second by sending 11 batters to the plate while scoring six runs on three hits as the first seven hitters reached safely.

Katherine Rich, Hannah Waldrip and Lloyd walked to load the bases with no outs. After Rich scored on a throwing error by the Kirk catcher, Hannah Heafner was hit by a pitch to reload the bases.

Senior catcher Laci DuBravec then crushed a triple down the left field line that cleared the bases to make the score 5-1. Bradi Beard followed on the very next pitch with another triple in almost the same spot as DuBravec’s  to add another run.

Erin Snider kept the inning going by drawing a walk to put runners on the corners with outs. After Madison Atkinson lined into a double play, Christin Moudy hit a flyball that was dropped by the center fielder that allowed Snider to score the final run of the inning

Kirk scored its lone run of the game in the top of the third as Anna Katherine Lancaster reached on a one-out walk and later scored on Kasey Staten’s RBI single.

Sims (3-2) allowed only five baserunners in the game while walking three and striking out four.

After Lloyd’s home run increased the lead to 8-1, North Delta tacked on three runs in the fourth for the final margin of victory.

Courtney DuBravec walked and later scored on an error while Julianna Morrow and Maribeth Johns followed with a walk and single. Rico and Waldrip also walked to drive home a run before Lloyd’s sacrifice fly plated Johns for the final run.

Laci DuBravec and Lloyd led the Wave with two hits each while Johns and Rich both singled. Beard also added a triple.

North Delta travels to Canton Academy Saturday for a varsity double header that will start a seven-game road trip for the Green Wave.

North Delta returns home September 6 to take on Carroll in a district matchup.