By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – The Hamilton Heights softball team traveled to Sheridan on Thursday for an all-county game that also served as a showcase for the young talent on both teams.
The Huskies are off to a strong start this season and kept it rolling, beating the Blackhawks 21-2. Heights was close to a run-rule victory in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Sheridan scored one run in each of those innings, stretching the contest to the regulation seven innings. The Huskies scored 10 runs in the seventh inning.
Sheridan’s Amiyah Doss (right) scored one of the Blackhawks’ runs on Thursday. Also pictured is Abby Dallas. (Richie Hall)
Heights got contributions from every player on the team, from freshman to senior.
This years’ Huskies squad has three seniors, and all three helped with the victory. Pitcher Lily Cash threw 10 strikeouts in four innings, allowing only one hit. Melanee Forrester hit an RBI double and Taya Trosper scored two runs.
Heights’ freshmen also contributed, with Kaitlyn Schakel scoring one run and driving in another run. Olivia Mackey scored two runs.
“I feel like the older girls are taking the younger girls under their wing, and the older girls are learning a lot from the younger girls, too,” said Huskies coach Shelby Wills.
The “in-between” class players also had great games. Junior Kamryn Rhoton was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate, including a home run and two doubles. Rhoton scored three runs and drove in three runs.
Junior Olivia Turner cracked a two-run homer. Another junior, Heather Crays, was 4-for-5, both scoring and batting in three runs. Sophomore McKenzie Jackson also had three hits, three runs scored and three RBIs.
Heights won its first five games of the season, including a Tuesday Hoosier Conference victory over Western 4-1 at the Huskies field. Heights traveled to the Panthers’ field on Wednesday, where Western won 8-0.
“Especially after a loss last night, coming back and being able to make the adjustments between different types of pitching is really great to see,” said Wills. “I’m very happy for the girls.”
Sophomore Norah Adams scored Sheridan’s fifth-inning run. She got on base with a double, then freshman Ellen Phillips bunted her home. In the sixth inning, sophomore Amiyah Doss hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman Ellie Eaton; both Eaton and Doss also hit doubles during the game.
The Blackhawks have nine freshmen on their roster, exactly half of Sheridan’s total of 18. Emily Will, Makenzy Terry and Eva Todd are the seniors on this year’s team.
The Huskies are 6-1 and play Saturday at Benton Central. The Blackhawks are 0-3 and host Covenant Christian on Monday.
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