Rookie delivers in circle to help Notre Dame softball team down Perryville

Nikki Peters hadn't pitched an inning for the varsity all year.

A freshman usually doesn't, especially when she plays on an undefeated team and its starting pitcher, Katie Bond, is 21-0.

So it was surprising to see Peters in the circle for the Bulldogs when they hosted Perryville on Wednesday.

Peters delivered the biggest game of her life.

Bond was injured and taken for stitches during warmups, missing her first start of the year. Peters didn't miss a beat.

Notre Dame freshman pitcher Nikki Peters delivers to a Perryville batter during Wednesday's game.

The freshman hurled all six innings and allowed only one hit to a potent Pirates offense, helping Notre Dame win 11-1 in six innings.

"I was excited," Peters said. "I was pretty nervous trying to fill in big shoes that Katie's put in fulfilling the undefeated season. I was kind of nervous, but after the first inning, I was fine."

Added Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett: "She's shown signs of that on the JV. Really when we got past the part of Katie going down and knowing she was going to be OK, then the thought crossed my mind what I've seen so far this year. Summer [Burger] has done a good job, but she's just a mainstay at shortstop and we want to leave her there. So I had a lot of confidence in her, and that's what I told her. You have one of the best defenses in the state. Just go out there and throw strikes."

Bond had started every game, compiling a 21-0 record, while Burger earned the other victory in the circle for the Bulldogs (23-0).

Peters now can add her name to the list.

Notre Dame baserunner Sadie Schaefer safely slides into second base before Perryville's Hailey Richardet can apply the tag during the fifth inning Wednesday. (Laura Simon)

"I was pretty proud of myself," Peters said. "This is one of the biggest games I've had my whole career, and I was excited to come out with a win."

The Pirates pounced early on the young pitcher with a one-out double by Kelcie Fahnestock in the first inning. She later scored on a sacrifice fly. But that was the only hit the Pirates mustered.

"The first thing, I was nervous," Peters said. "The whole team was kind of down, and I was wishing that they would just pick up and stay behind me. They stuck behind me even though I had a few walks. They stuck behind me and made sure they played their best."

The Bulldogs tied it in the second on an Ashton Elfrink RBI fielder's choice.

Notre Dame then pushed across three runs in the third inning.

Brianne Sanders led off with an infield bunt, Hali Rendleman reached on an error and Burger added another bunt single to load the bases.

Brandi Glastetter then grounded out to third, but the throw home was low, which allowed the Bulldogs to take a 2-1 lead. They tacked on two more in the inning.

"That was huge," Bulldogs catcher Savanna Ayers said. "Perryville has always been a huge rival with us, so it felt good especially not having our pitcher to show that we can still come back and win."

Notre Dame added four more in the fourth inning.

Sadie Schaefer led off with a single and scored on another Perryville error. Burger blasted a three-run home run to left-center field to seal the victory.

"That's been the key to us all year long," Graviett said. "You give us an opening and we're going to take advantage of it. Use our speed to put the pressure on defenses to make mistakes."

It was Peters who stole the show in the Bulldogs' 10-run win against their district rival. The teams have met for the Class 3 District 1 title the last two seasons.

Peters consistently painted the outside corners and pitched to contact, letting her defense work.

"The curveball was really curving today and staying outside so they couldn't reach it," Peters said. "I think all my hard work really paid off. I was pretty excited and never let down."

Ayers, the Bulldogs' mainstay at catcher, was impressed with the underclassman's debut.

"She's a great underclassman, and it was awesome to see her settle down and really get in a groove and show that she can pitch," Ayers said. "Her riseball was really good. She was doing a good job of hitting her spots and letting her defense do the rest."

Perryville 100 000 -- 1 1 3

Notre Dame 013 421 -- 11 14 1

WP -- Nikki Peters. LP -- Casey Hotop. HR -- Summer Burger (ND). 2B -- Kelcie Fahnestock (P), Hali Rendleman (ND), Burger (ND) Tiffany Wood (ND). Multiple hits: Notre Dame, Rendleman 2-3, Burger 3-4, Savanna Ayers 2-4. Records -- Notre Dame 23-0.