Fast Start Helps Hoosac in Win Over Greylock
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The offense of the Hoosac Valley softball team just keeps on rolling.
The Hurricanes' bats were at it again on Thursday in a 12-7 win over Mount Greylock. In the first six games of the season, all wins by Hoosac, Morgan Shafer's club has scored double-digit runs in all but two contests. After scoring 12 runs on 12 hits on Thursday, the 'Canes are now averaging 10.6 runs per game.
Hoosac got off to fast start against the Mounties on Thursday, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning before knocking two more runs in the second and three more in the third to open up a 10-0 lead. Senior Amanda Meczywor got things started with an RBI double in the first inning. After a walk by Karli Schrade loaded the bases, freshman Kassandra Kazimierczak belted a shot over the left-field fence for a grand slam and her fourth home run of the season.
Schrade then came through with a two-run triple in the second inning, her first of two triples on the day, before Carly Kondel, Samantha Howe and Meczywor each added RBI singles in the third inning. Howe finished the game going 3 for 5 with two runs scored and one RBI.
"We came right out with the bats swinging," Shafer said. "Greylock answered back with two big innings, but Amanda did a great job on the mound today despite the bitterly cold weather."
The Mounties were no slouches at the plate either, collecting 11 hits on the day against Meczywor. June Blake's squad rallied back with four runs in the bottom of the third inning and three more in the fifth to cut the Hurricanes' lead to 10-7, but the visitors put the game away by scoring single runs in both the sixth and seventh frames.
"Hoosac did a good job swinging the bats early in this one," Greylock head coach June Blake said. "Defensively, we settled down and began making the plays in the second half of this one."
Junior Caitie Benoit and sophomore Alexis Bushika led the Mounties, both going 3 for 4 on the day. Junior Sierra Holland also knocked in three RBI, while Benoit was close behind with two runs scored and two more batted in.
Meczywor wasn't as dominant as she was in Wednesday's win over Wahconah, allowing six earned runs on the day, but she still did enough to improve her season record to 5-0 by striking out 11 Greylock batters and walking just one. Bushika took the loss for Greylock, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits, fanning eight and walking three.
The Mounties next host Drury at 4 p.m. on Monday, while Hoosac hosts St. Joe's at the same time.