Ketcham’s walk-off home run caps memorable senior night as Wolves rally past MVAOCOU

IRWIN— Senior Night already promised to be an emotional evening for the IKM-Manning softball team, but by the time the final out was recorded, it had become one of the most memorable nights of the season.
Freshman Kadynce Ketcham crushed a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting the Wolves to a dramatic 6-5 victory over MVAOCOU Wednesday night after IKM-Manning honored seniors Anna Stangl, Karlee Arp, Olivia Greving and Laura McCarville before the game.
Trailing by one entering their final at-bat, head coach Andrea Schwery gathered her team with a simple message.
“We can put up one run and maybe more,” Schwery said.
“Just one swing at a time. Don’t swing for home runs because then you’re going to hit pop ups.”
The Wolves embraced that approach while feeding off the energy in the dugout.
“The girls had a lot of positive energy,” Schwery said. 
“They had their rally caps on and were loud in the dugout, and everyone was involved in the game even if they weren’t at bat. It makes you not feel alone at the plate.”
Moments later, Stangl reached base to spark the rally before Ketcham delivered the biggest swing of the night, sending a two-run home run over the fence and setting off a celebration at home plate as her teammates rushed out to greet her.
Ketcham finished 1-for-2 with the game-winning homer and three RBIs while also laying down two sacrifice bunts earlier in the contest.
Despite being limited to just three hits, IKM-Manning found ways to manufacture offense throughout the night. 
Stangl reached base in all four of her plate appearances, collecting a single and three walks while scoring three runs. 
Reagan Hoffman added the Wolves’ other hit with a single.
The Wolves also executed the small game effectively, recording four sacrifice bunts while drawing four walks. Stangl and Annabelle Blum each stole a base as IKM-Manning continued to pressure the MVAOCOU defense.
Schwery was pleased with the way her team answered throughout the game, never allowing the visitors to seize complete control.
“I thought we responded every inning,” Schwery said. 
“We got a run when they did and when we needed to, and that kept the game close. Then we were able to get a clutch hit. Anna Stangl got on, and then Kadynce had the hit at the end, so that was good.”
Sophomore Keagan Eischeid earned the win in the circle, pitching all seven innings. 
She allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits while striking out nine batters and walking five to keep the Wolves within striking distance until the offense could deliver in the seventh.
Defensively, Macy Rasmussen recorded five putouts at second base, while senior catcher Laura McCarville handled nine putouts behind the plate.
Before the dramatic finish, the Wolves took time to recognize the senior class that has helped transform the program over the past four seasons.
Arp reflected on how much the culture has changed since she first joined the program.
“As an eighth grader, it was a very different culture. A lot of different things happened, and over the years we’ve been able to build a program that’s seeded No. 2 in our regional bracket,” Arp said. 
“It’s just really special to be a part of a team that can win like this, pull a win off in the seventh inning and just always have fun together.”
For Stangl, the journey from a two-win freshman season to one of the top teams in the regional bracket has made every challenge worthwhile.
“It means everything to be a part of this program,” Stangl said. 
“Winning two games our freshman year and slowly working and getting better, it just means everything. Having so many different coaches and always finding a way to build back our program, we really did that and changed the culture here.”
McCarville said the relationships she built throughout her career are what she’ll cherish most.
“This program has really meant a lot to me,” McCarville said. 
“My dad was my coach for a little bit, and I’m really grateful for that because he taught me a lot of lessons on how to be coachable, and I get to be with my best friends every single day.”
The Wolves now turn their attention to postseason play, where they will open on July 8 against either Sidney or Lenox in Irwin at 7.