By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – Whatever nerves that Kenzie Lee had during Hamilton Southeastern’s season-opening softball game went away after one swing.
The junior helped the Class 4A defending state champion Royals’ season get off to a great start, hitting two home runs in their 14-2, five-inning win Wednesday at North Central. Lee batted in seven runs for Southeastern, making it a memorable start to her varsity career.
“Last year, I got called up for our sectional tournament and I got called up for our Terre Haute tournament,” said Lee. “But this is my first season playing varsity, fully varsity.”
Second-year coach Emily Pusti said that this year’s Royals team has “a lot of fresh faces” all across the board, from freshman to senior. Southeastern graduated several seniors from last year’s team, but also has some key players back from last season, including ace junior pitcher Grace Swedarsky, to complement those new faces on the team.
“They’re the types of players that are not only just talented, but they’re just good overall, kids that have a passion for softball,” said Pusti. “We’re just trying to focus on that and then continue to grow that passion. And then as they share in that, I think that’s what’s going to help them bond is recognizing the overall goal that they all have together is the same goal.”
The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Junior Addison Richmond led off with a double and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Senior Makena Burlingame got home for the second run when senior Maya Valenta hit a sacrifice fly.
Southeastern broke the game open in the third inning. Valenta singled in freshman Lilly Palmer, then moved to third base on freshman Madison Burlingame’s double. Senior Brooke Bauer drew a walk to load the bases, then Lee stepped up and hit a grand slam, sending it perfectly over the center field fence.
Just like that, HSE led 7-0. The Royals weren’t done, doubling their lead in the fourth inning with seven more runs. Junior Kaitlyn Burdick led off with a double, then scored after senior Leah Paris reached on error. Madison Burlingame drew a walk, then sophomore Haleigh Seitz reached on error.
Lee came up again, and smacked her second home run of the game, with this one going over the right field fence. Southeastern led 12-0 at that point. The Royals scored two more runs later in the inning, with Richmond batting in sophomore Tori Bricker and senior Chloe Smith with a left field single.
“Everybody that was here and not injured, they all played tonight,” said Pusti. “We had a lot of freshmen that are ready to step in, and we had two freshmen that were available to play tonight that got to play and I think they stepped up to it.”
After Lee’s two hits, eight different players had one hit for Southeastern. Richmond and Valenta both totaled two RBIs.
Meanwhile, Swedarsky had a solid start in the circle. She pitched the first three innings, striking out eight and allowing no hits. Junior Natavia Wright pitched the final two innings, striking out three.
The Royals play their next game Friday, taking on Carmel at Cherry Tree Softball Complex.
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