By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
NOBLESVILLE – Hamilton Heights visited Guerin Catholic in an all-county softball matchup Wednesday night.
The Huskies got started early and scored often in winning their fifth game in a row over the host Golden Eagles, 11-1 in five innings.
Heather Crays led off the game with a double down the left field line. Crays scored immediately on Taya Trosper’s triple to deep right center for the early 1-0 score.
Kamryn Rhoton also doubled, sending Trosper home. McKenzie Jackson’s base hit scored Rhoton for a 3-0 lead.
The top of the second produced even more for Heights. Lily Cash singled to right center to start off. A pair of walks from Ellie Engle and Trosper loaded the bags with two outs.
Hannah Dent sent a hit to right, reaching on an error and wound up at third. Cash, Engle and Trosper scored on the play. Dent also ran home on the throwing error, increasing the margin to 7-0.
Rhoton walked for runners at the corners. Jackson drove a hit to center, plating Rhoton for 8-0.
“One of the things that we always focus on is having a complete lineup,” said Hamilton Heights head coach Shelby Wills. “Even our nine hole (hitter) has to hit. Before the game, I told them not to play scared and to let it come to them. They really did that and I’m excited for them going into Friday’s game.”
Cash struck out all three Guerin hitters in the first, along with the first two in the second. Guerin’s lone hit came in the bottom of the second. Izzy Phillips launched a solo home run over the fence in left to make it 8-1.
To say the least, Cash was dialed in and focused in the pitching circle. It helps out that Wednesday was her 18th birthday, according to Coach Wills.
“Today is actually her 18th birthday. So, she was locked in from the time we got on the bus today. She’s one of my most focused girls I have on my team,” Wills said of Cash. “I can always count on her. She pitched probably the best game of her season so far.”
It’s not easy to game plan for a pitcher like Cash.
“Right now, our philosophy is to keep swinging and get better each pitch,” said Guerin Catholic head coach Jeff Buckner. “Eight of our 13 players are freshmen. That’s probably some of the best pitching they have seen this year. I thought she got us the first time through the order. The next time, we put the ball in play a little bit. We didn’t hit it really hard, but we were making adjustments and getting better.”
Three more hits and three walks got the runners on, helping manufacture another three runs to account to give the Huskies the 10-run win in five.
Guerin pitcher Ava Augustinovicz was completely composed, despite that rough outing. She gave up nine hits, allowed 11 runs (five earned), struck out six and walked seven.
“She (Ava) competes. She wants to win, do well. It’s tough for a pitcher to let that stuff go when things aren’t going your way,” said Buckner. “Whether they’re hitting the ball or we’re helping them a little bit. She fights through all of that and keeps battling.”
Guerin Catholic (4-5) gets the weekend off and hits the road at Sheridan on Monday, followed by a Tuesday road trip to Roncalli in Circle City Conference play. The Golden Eagles return home next Wednesday against Covenant Christian.
The Huskies totaled nine hits, including two-hit nights from Crays, Trosper and Jackson.
Hamilton Heights (10-1) hosts Danville (10-4) tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
