The REPORTER
Offense has not been a problem so far for both the Westfield and Carmel softball teams.
Both programs have already scored over 30 runs this season in a short amount of time. The two teams met at the Greyhounds’ Cherry Tree Softball Complex on Wednesday, where the Shamrocks won 18-10.
“We are just coming out swinging,” said first-year Westfield coach Maddie Moore, a Noblesville graduate who played at Butler University. “I think that’s been one thing we’ve been really working on in the off-season. We have been pressing at them, finding good pitches, knowing your zone and being ready to attack. We don’t have kids looking up there to walk. If you look at all our counts, we’re going up there swinging.”
Westfield scored one run in each of the first two innings. Makayla Watson got the first run on a passed ball in the opening inning. Olivia Sampia then blasted a solo home run in the second inning.
Bella Blakeley added another homer in the fourth inning, sending an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence. That made the score 3-0 in favor of the Rocks.
Blakeley is a freshman and Sampia is a sophomore. Moore said she thinks the young players are “doing great” so far.
“Being a first-year is hard, especially playing against really good 18-year-olds,” said Moore. “We’re in a really good conference. I think they’re adjusting really well. I think they’re being willing to learn. They’re getting along with all the kids, and so it’s just been great to have them up.”
Carmel took over in the bottom of the fourth, putting up nine runs. Winni Owens singled in Jayden Kleiner for the first run, then Ellie Goddard scored after Avery Klein reached on an error to load the bases.
Taylor Vietch and Tinsley Malek drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to move the Hounds ahead 4-3. Chloe Junkersfield got the tying run and Owens scored the go-ahead run. Riley Petrites sent a two-run single into center field to bring in Klein and Vietch.
Kleiner came up to bat again and sent a home run over the right field fence. The hit also brought Malek and Petrites home and gave Carmel a 9-3 lead.
But Westfield answered. Reese Mahannah doubled in Watson and Sofia Easterhaus, then was sent home after Carlynne Schrock cracked a center field home run. Blakeley singled, Alyssa Ayres was hit by a pitch, and Sampia came up and blasted a left field homer, sending everyone home and giving the Shamrocks a 10-9 lead.
Klein tied the game at 10-10 in the top of the fifth with a solo home run. The score stayed there until the seventh inning, when Westfield put up eight runs.
Mahannah singled in Annika Lawrence, Schrock batted in Watson and loaded the bases, then Easterhaus scored when Adelyn Kurth drew a walk, making the score 13-10.
Blakeley batted in Mahannah, then Schrock scored on Ayers’ sacrifice fly. The bases were loaded again, and Dylan Todd drew a walk to send in Kurth. Watson provided the final RBIs with a two-run single, scoring Blakeley and Lawrence.
Watson and Easterhaus both collected four hits for Westfield, while Schrock and Blakeley both had three hits. Sydney Jordan and Sampia took turns in the pitching circle, with Sampia throwing one strikeout.
Petrites, Kleiner and Owens all had two hits for Carmel, including a double for Owens. Malek also hit a double. Chelsea Bennett threw four strikeouts in four innings.
“We just ran out of steam there at the end,” said Greyhounds coach Stephanie Kleiner. Still, the coach believes there is improvement, as Carmel had won its first two games of the season before falling to the Rocks.
“Clearly, we’ve made a turnaround here and we’re doing really well,” said Kleiner.
Westfield is 1-1; this was the Rocks’ first win of the year after dropping a Tuesday game at Plainfield. Westfield hosts Center Grove on Saturday. The Greyhounds travel to Hamilton Southeastern on Friday.