By RICHIE HALL
NOTE: This story has been edited to include Heights’ Friday and Saturday games.
ARCADIA – The Hamilton Heights softball team ran away with a home game against Anderson on Thursday, winning 14-0 in five innings for its first victory of the season.
Melanee Forrester batted in two runs. (Richie Hall)
The Huskies scored all of their runs in the first three innings. Heights put up two runs in the opening inning, then scored six in the second and another six in the third.
Kamryn Rhoton finished the second inning with a two-run home run to left field, also scoring junior Melanee Forrester. Rhoton had already driven in a run in the first inning, scoring freshman McKenzie Jackson with a sacrifice fly. Rhoton then doubled in two runs in the third, giving her five RBIs for the game.
Heather Crays had two hits, a triple and a double, and scored two runs. Jackson doubled in two runs in the second inning and scored three runs for the game.
The Huskies have a new coach this year, but she is familiar with the program. Shelby Wills is a 2017 Heights graduate and she played on the Huskies teams that won back-to-back regional championships in 2015 and 2016.
Wills said coaching the first few games has been “a little nerve-wracking, because I love this program so much. I grew up in it. I believe that we have the potential to go very far deep into the season with the girls that we have. We have so much talent and I’m excited to see where they go and how we continue to work after tonight’s win.”
The Huskies have seven freshmen on the roster, including Jackson and Audrey Cain, who had two hits and scored two runs. Rhoton and Crays are still sophomores. Heights has two seniors, but both are significant contributors: Hailey Hall scored three runs, while Isabel Morrow drove in one run and scored another.
Junior Lily Cash pitched the entire game, striking out eight while allowing four hits.
Heights followed up its first victory with two more run-rule games. First, the Huskies beat Taylor 16-4 in five innings Friday.
Rhoton was 3-for-4 at that plate, including a triple in the fourth inning. She scored four runs and drove in two. Jackson and sophomore Ellie Engle both hit one double. Morrow and Engle both batted in three runs, while Jackson and Cash scored three runs.
Crays got the win, pitching the first winning and striking out three. Freshman Addi Gerber pitched 3.2 innings, striking out four and allowing just one hit.
Heights rolled to a 13-2 six-inning win at Maconaquah Saturday. Rhoton hit two doubles in a 3-for-3 night at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring three more. Crays also hit a double while going 2-for-2 and scored three runs. Crays also pitched all six innings, striking out six.
The Huskies are 3-2 and begin Hoosier Conference play Tuesday with a game at Western. Heights hosts Western on Wednesday to complete the series, then hosts Sheridan on Thursday.
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