A home run derby broke out at the Westfield softball field on Wednesday.
The Shamrocks hosted Carmel in a rollicking game, eventually winning 13-9. The Greyhounds took a big early lead before Westfield came back with six runs in the bottom of the third inning, then made another big run in the sixth inning to clinch the victory.
It was all Carmel in the first two innings. Hope McDonald hit a single to get on base in the first inning, then Lily Sullivan sent her home with a home run. In the second inning, Jayden Kleiner batted in Mia Flemming. Later, McDonald homered, also scoring Sophie Esposito, who got on with a fielder’s choice.
With that, the Greyhounds led 5-0. But the ‘Rocks took over in the third inning. Westfield loaded the bases, then Cara Snedeker nailed a grand slam into center field. Makayla Watson, Annika Lawrence and Maggie Roh all scored. Chloe Tanner tied the game with an RBI double to score Grace Feltz, then Grace Fanelli doubled home Shea Voss to give the Shamrocks a 7-6 lead.
Carmel came back in the top of the fourth inning, as McDonald blasted a two-run homer into left field, also scoring Kleiner. Westfield answered that with its own two-run home run: Ava Kainrath sent one into center field, also getting Roh home. Avery Banas scored in the fifth inning to give the ‘Rocks a 9-7 lead.
Kleiner opened the sixth inning with yet another home run, and the ‘Hounds were within 9-8. Westfield added to that lead in the bottom of the sixth: Snedeker led off with a base hit, then Kainrath smacked her second home run of the day, putting Westfield up 11-8. Fanelli would later single on to base, then Allie Dolenc got in on the hit parade, nailing a left field homer. Carmel got one runner back when Lucy Broughton scored on an RBI groundout, but another groundout ended the game.
Fanelli finished the game with three hits for the ‘Rocks. Tanner pitched the complete game, striking out six. McDonald and Kleiner both had three hits for Carmel.
Westfield is 2-0 and plays Friday at North Central. The Greyhounds are 0-2 and host Mount Vernon next Wednesday.
WESTFIELD 13, CARMEL 9
Carmel AB R H RBI
Sophie Esposito 3 1 1 0
Hope McDonald 3 3 3 4
Lily Sullivan 4 1 1 2
Gracyn Erickson 4 0 1 0
Alex Longstreth 4 0 1 0
Lucy Broughton 3 1 2 0
Mia Flemming 4 1 1 1
Katy Smith 2 0 0 0
Kayden Dierks 1 0 0 0
Jayden Kleiner 3 2 3 2
Totals 31 9 13 9
HR: McDonald 2, Sullivan, Kleiner. 2B: Broughton, Flemming. SB: Kleiner.
Carmel pitching IP R ER H
Broughton 2 6 5 3
Erickson 4 7 7 8
Strikeouts: Erickson 3, Broughton 1. Walks: Broughton 2, Erickson 1.
Westfield AB R H RBI
Maggie Roh 3 2 1 0
Grace Feltz 0 1 0 0
Cara Snedeker 4 2 2 4
Ava Kainrath 3 2 2 4
Chloe Tanner 4 0 1 1
Grace Fanelli 4 1 3 1
Allie Dolenc 3 1 1 2
Avery Banas 4 1 1 0
Makayla Watson 3 1 0 1
Samantha Breaux 3 0 0 0
Annika Lawrence 0 1 0 0
Shea Voss 0 1 0 0
Totals 31 13 11 13
HR: Kainrath 2, Dolenc, Snedeker. 2B: Tanner, Banas, Fanelli. SB: Feltz. HBP: Kainrath.
Westfield pitching IP R ER H
Tanner 7 9 8 13
Strikeouts: Tanner 6. Walks: Tanner 2.
Score by innings
Carmel 230 201 1 – 9 13 1
Westfield 006 214 x – 13 11 0