HS Softball: Schuylkill Haven slugs way past Wyomissing
Schuylkill Haven's infield gathers for a huddle during Monday's non-league game against Wyomissing. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Head coach Garry Adams has had his full team back for barely a week.
Basketball players and swimmers enjoyed great success in their winter sports, but now it’s time to turn to the softball diamond, and the Hurricanes have the makings of a fine team this spring as well.
After a low-scoring nailbiter in the opener against Tamaqua, the Hurricanes bashed 12 hits to outslug Wyomissing 12-6 on Monday in a non-league game on the Schuylkill Haven campus.
Center fielder Ally Becker led the charge by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. She smacked an RBI single in the second inning and a two-run homer over the left-field fence in the fourth.
Catcher Nickie Domermuth added a 3-for-3 day at the plate that included an RBI double in the second inning and an RBI single in the third for the Hurricanes (2-0).
“Last game, we definitely had the defense. We did not have the offense,” Becker said of the 1-0 win over Tamaqua. “We definitely brought the offense. Not 100 percent, though. We could do a lot better, but a win’s a win. We got the hits that we needed. Everyone’s expecting a lot from us this year. We’re all positive, and we all want to go forward with everything.”
The top of Schuylkill Haven’s lineup also delivered. Leadoff batter Kaitlyn Russo went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base. No. 2 batter Teagan Wehr went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, one RBI and one stolen base as the Hurricanes scored in each of the first five innings.
“I was a lot more pleased with our offense. … We stayed aggressive offensively,” Schuylkill Haven coach Garry Adams said.
Still, Wyomissing (2-2) pushed Schuylkill Haven, cutting the deficit to 6-3 in the third inning and 9-6 in the fifth. Each time the Spartans rallied, the Hurricanes answered with runs in the bottom of the inning to make the lead more comfortable again.
“They put the bats on the ball, and they made us play. … They made us work for it,” Adams said of Wyomissing.
Allie Scherer battled through five innings in the circle to earn the win. She allowed six runs while striking out six and walking five. Grace Line came on to pitch the final two innings. She retired all six batters she faced, including four strikeouts.
Schuylkill Haven’s busy week continues Tuesday when the Hurricanes open Schuylkill League Division II play at Nativity. Tri-Valley visits Schuylkill Haven on Thursday afternoon for another division game.
“Just like some of the other schools, they’re just starting,” Adams said. “They’re a couple days away from getting in the flow of everything, but that’s no excuse. The rest of the team has been working hard. Just like the other night (against Tamaqua), it took a complete team effort.
“Right now, the attitude, they all stick together,” Adams added. “They all want to work hard to do the things that they have to do. … This is a good bunch of girls. They’re cheering each other the whole time. Even at practice, girls are helping other girls try to get better. That’s what I want. I want the girls who are coming off the bench to be right there ready to play.”
Wyo (2-2) 021 120 0 — 6 9 4
SH (2-0) 241 230 x — 12 12 1
Schoedler and Watts; A. Scherer, Line (6) and Domermuth. W — A. Scherer (1-0). L — Schoedler.
HITS: Wyomissing — L. Caldwell, P. Caldwell, Watts, Way 2, Schoedler 2, Lecher 2. Schuylkill Haven — Russo 2, Wehr 2, Becker 3, E. Scherer, A. Scherer, Domermuth 3.
2B — P. Caldwell, Domermuth. HR — Becker.
Williams Valley 14, Halifax 4
TOWER CITY — Sage Smeltz sparked the offense by going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and one RBI as Williams Valley rolled past Halifax in a non-league game at Lee Reiser Field.
Audrina Fry also had a big day for the Vikings, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Kayla Hand went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Quin Smeltz went 2-for-3 with an RBI and threw out two runners trying to steal. Olivia Hand had one single, one run and three RBIs as the Vikes clubbed 14 hits.
In two games this season, Williams Valley has scored 29 runs on 27 hits. The team is hitting .519 (27-for-52) in the early going.
Kamri Koppenhaver went the distance in the circle for the Vikings, allowing two earned runs and striking out eight.
Hal (2-1) 004 00 — 4 6 4
WV (2-0) 460 31 — 14 14 1
Readinger, B. Roland (2) and Barcavage; Koppenhaver and Q. Smeltz. W — Koppenhaver (1-0). L — Readinger.
HITS: Halifax — B. Roland 2, M. Roland, Villa, Barcavage, Lutz. Williams Valley — K. Hand 2, S. Smeltz 4, Q. Smeltz 2, Sorokach, Fry 3, O. Hand, Mahoney.
2B — B. Roland, S. Smeltz 2.
Shenandoah Valley 23, CMVT 8
SHENANDOAH — Zoey Zulkowski pitched and slugged Shenandoah Valley to a non-league win over Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech at Bicentennial Park.
Zulkowski tossed 2.2 innings of relief to get the victory in the circle. She allowed one earned run and struck out seven. At the plate, Zulkowski went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs.
Morgan Labosky also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Other top hitters for the Blue Devils included Aubrie Monaghan, 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs; and Maria Castro, 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI.
Shenandoah Valley broke the game open with a 13-run third inning.
