After methodically working through the Wolverines lineup the first two times, Bodamer was just three outs away from a perfect game in the circle. Then, Westfield got a look at her for a third time and the top of the order collected its first three hits of the day and even plated a run.

However, Bodamer did not let that get her down as she set down the next three batters to secure the 6-1 league victory.

“She had good control inside-outside and up and down,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Dave Bodamer said about his daughter, Elli. “All of her movements and stuff were good today, she had good velocity and everything, but we’re really big on the movement of her pitches. I was getting excited there after six, but that’s why it’s so hard to do that and why it’s so rare. I give credit to them, they saw her a couple times and started catching on.”

Bodamer gave herself all the help she would need before she even took to the circle, clobbering a two-run home run in the top of the first inning that scored Jessica Lyon.

Elli Bodamer’s Clymer/Sherman/Panama teammates congratulate her after she hit a two-run home run during the top of the first inning against Westfield in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 softball action on Monday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“Getting off in the first inning, the home run was big for us,” Coach Bodamer added. “It kind of calmed everybody down. We did a better job at the plate, we were talking to the girls afterwards that we’ve got to drive runs in. We’re leaving too many on base, too many in scoring position, but we are making things happen with the ball in play.”

Clymer/Sherman/Panama scored in every other inning with Lyon and Bodamer scoring five of the Wolfpack’s six as a team. The pair scored together again in the third inning when Caylee Pinzok stroked a two-out two-run single that made the game 4-0 with Bodamer dominating in the circle.

Pinzok joined Lyon and Bodamer with multiple hits as she added another RBI, while Kiera Loberg picked up the other extra-base hit with a double and scored a run.

“It takes the pressure off your pitching if you know you can give up some runs,” Coach Bodamer said about the benefits of the offense providing runs. “The defense behind Elli has been very solid this year. … It’s nice to have that team both ways going.”

The heart of the Wolfpack (6-1, 5-1) lineup found success against Westfield’s Avery Smith, but that did not stop her from having a strong game in the circle opposite Bodamer as she struck out 10 batters and walked just two with nine hits and five earned runs allowed.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama shortstop Jessica Lyon makes a throw to first base against Westfield. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“Avery pitched a really good game today,” Coach Bodamer said about the opposing pitcher. “I think she had double-digit strikeouts if I’m not mistaken.”

The Westfield (3-5, 3-3) lineup didn’t give Smith much help, but the Wolverines did not quit on their pitcher in the bottom of the seventh with a perfect game being thrown by Bodamer.

“It’s been an interesting season,” Westfield head coach Jack Burgess said. “I said at the beginning of our season that our goal is to progress and get better every game. Obviously, we’re getting better and making some more plays. I’m proud of the girls for battling.”

Mackenzie Schumaker, Madyson Burgess and Arielle Corbett connected on three straight singles to start the seventh, with Corbett driving in Schumaker to erase the shutout. Burgess and Corbett both got into scoring position, putting some pressure on Bodamer.

However, the Wolfpack senior showed why she is one of the best pitchers in the area as she got out of the game without any more damage, finishing with three hits and 12 strikeouts.

“Elli is one of the premier pitchers in our county,” Burgess added. “It seems like we’ve been playing her for 10 years. She threw extremely well, the best I’ve seen her throw through those first six innings. I give my girls credit for battling and getting some baserunners in the seventh.”