By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
PENDLETON – For three consecutive games to open the season, the Westfield Shamrocks softball team lit up the scoreboard with 43 runs scored and 11 home runs overall.
On Thursday night at Pendleton Heights, the formerly unbeaten ‘Rocks tacked on six more runs and a two-run blast by Grace Fanelli, but it wasn’t enough to derail the revamped Arabians at Legends Field.
Down 2-1 early, the Shamrocks (3-1) fell behind further as Pendleton Heights charged ahead behind a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth and a three-run shot in the fifth en route to an 11-6 loss.
“Our No. 1 motto is we learn more from failure than we do success,” Westfield head coach Brian Revercomb said. “I think that’s important in whatever you’re doing, so to play teams like this and to really compete and have a chance is important.”
The Shamrocks more than competed against an Arabians’ program that reached the elite eight in 2022.
Held scoreless through three innings against Pendleton Heights ace Eliza Findlay, the Shamrocks plated a run in the top of the fourth to cut their deficit 2-1 on a two-out RBI single by Maggie Roh.
In the top of the fifth, they chased Findlay with eight hits against the right-hander and five in the frame to make it a 6-4 game momentarily.
“She was doing a nice job of putting the ball up in the zone, and we weren’t being terribly disciplined,” Revercomb said. “I think, we made nice adjustments one time through the batting order, and we did that against Decatur Central, too. I’m proud of them making those adjustments.”
Prior to Thursday, Westfield throttled Decatur Central, 20-5, on the road to open the season March 20. The ‘Rocks beat Carmel, 13-8, two days later at home and Franklin Central, 10-6, away on Tuesday.
“I’m super confident in our offense. They’re doing a lot of things well,” Revercomb said. “You can see the maturity of the offense.”
The order’s potency was revealed leading up to the top of the fifth, as it produced five runners in scoring position. Westfield left 11 runners stranded overall in the game.
Roh’s RBI single in the fourth was sparked by a two-out single from Makayla Watson, who finished 3-for-4 out of the lineup’s ninth hole.
“She’s a freshman, and in the fall, we recognized her as someone who has a lot of talent,” Revercomb remarked on Watson’s play. “We’re super happy with her and super happy with the effort she’s putting in so far.”
Roh went 2-for-4 with singles in the fourth and seventh innings.
Westfield cut their deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fifth behind a five-hit, two-out rally kicked off by a Fanelli single to left field.
Allie Dolenc (1-for-3) followed with a single before Avery Banas (1-for-3) drove in Fanelli, and Samantha Breaux (1-for-2) lined a two-run double to left, which chased Findlay.
Fanelli (3-for-4) provided the final Shamrocks’ runs in the top of the sixth by crushing a two-out, two-run home run that scored Ava Kainrath (1-for-3). Fanelli also recorded a double in the top of the second.
“She’s coming off an injury last year, and we really missed her bat,” Revercomb said. “She’s a solid third baseman and great defensively. Offensively, she’s so relaxed and calm. She knows what her job is.”
Fanelli’s two-run shot cut the deficit to 11-6, and the Shamrocks threatened in the top of the seventh with two runners on base, but the Arabians’ reliever Shelby Messer closed the door with two strikeouts mixed in before inducing a pop up to right field for the final out.
“We get a double there and it’s an 11-8 game. It makes them feel a little bit of pressure,” Revercomb said. “It’s non-conference, so we learn from it. We get better, and it’s great experience because our sectional is as tough as it gets.”
The Arabians (1-0) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI hit from Findlay (2-for-4). A Pendleton Heights runner – Kiah Hubble (2-for-5) – advanced home for the first run on a throw from the outfield.
A grand slam by Bo Shelton (1-for-2) for the Arabians with two outs increased the Westfield deficit 6-1 before the Shamrocks charged within two runs. Katelin Goodwin (2-for-4) hit a two-out, three-run home run for the Arabians in the bottom of the fifth to make it 11-4.
Westfield utilized three pitchers in the game, beginning with Chloe Tanner, who suffered the loss after 2.2 innings thrown, four hits allowed, two walks, a strikeout and two unearned runs surrendered.
Kenzie Hiatt and Shea Vohs combined in relief for 3.1 innings with nine hits allowed and five earned runs. Vohs had two strikeouts in her 1.2 innings.
“That team is as good as any team in our sectional, so it’s great preparation for that, which is our end goal,” Revercomb said. “Normally, (PH coach) Rob (Davis) gets a hold of us pretty good, so to compete like that for seven innings is a good feeling.”
The Shamrocks will look to bounce back and improve on their 1-0 Hoosier Crossroads Conference record on Tuesday at home against Brownsburg. They host non-conference Greenfield-Central on Wednesday.