(LEFT) Westfield catcher Carlynne Schrock made a tag-out at home for the Shamrocks during the second inning of their game with Fishers on Tuesday. Westfield won the game 15-5. (RIGHT) Fishers’ Kennedy Shockley was one of five Tigers that hit a double during the game. (Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – Westfield softball senior Makayla Watson was asked if the Shamrocks’ Wednesday victory over Fishers was a statement win.
“I do think it’s a big statement win,” she said.
It was certainly a loud statement. Westfield stunned the Class 4A No. 5 Tigers 15-5 in a six-inning game at the Monon Elementary School Athletic Complex. The victory was also the Rocks’ first Hoosier Crossroads Conference win of the season after they started league play 0-2.
“Tonight was the first time we’ve come out strong, pitching, defense and hitting,” said Westfield coach Maddie Moore. “The past few games, we’ve been timid out there and not ready to swing. And tonight, we told them ‘We are hunting and we are attacking today,’ and that makes a big difference.”
“We knew they would be a good team,” said Watson. “Obviously, their record shows it. We just came out and did what we need to do, hit the bats.”
Both teams scored a run in the first inning. Fishers’ Frankie Jackson doubled in Adrianne Cook, then Sydney Jordan sent Watson home with an RBI single.
Westfield erupted for six runs in the second inning. The Shamrocks loaded the bases, starting with Alyssa Ayers’ double, then Watson smacked a double to score Ayers and Reese Mahannah.
Sofia Easterhaus was next and she singled in Reese Gettinger. Watson scored when Carlynne Schrock reached on error, then Cam Pulice singled in Easterhaus and Annika Lawrence, who was running for Schrock.
Westfield kept things rolling in the third inning with another four runs. Easterhaus singled Ayers and Mahannah home, Watson scored on a wild pitch, then Easterhaus got home on Jordan’s RBI groundout.
“Put the ball in play and good things happen,” said Moore. “We’ve been really working hard to cut down our strikeouts, so tonight I think they got a lot better. We were ready to hit, we were just putting it in play and good things were happening.”
Fishers began a comeback in the later innings, starting with two runs in the fifth inning. Kennedy Shockley doubled in Joni Oliver, then Cook’s double scored Shockley.
The Tigers put up two more runs in the sixth. Saylor Roberts got home on Olivia McNall’s RBI groundout, then Anna McGrath singled Elizabeth Hammond home.
Fishers was within 11-5, but the Shamrocks finished the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ayers, Mahannah and Gettinger all hit singles to load the bases. Watson singled Ayers and Mahannah scored, then Easterhaus batted in Bella Blakeley (running for Gettinger). Jordan singled in Watson to end the game.
“We worked really hard on small ball in the off-season and I do feel like that has actually made a big impact,” said Moore.
Watson was flawless at the plate, hitting 4-for-4. Mahannah and Ayers were also perfect, going 3-for-3.
“I think we respond really well,” said Watson. “Even when we get down, we trust our bats and have our energy to keep us going.”
Olivia Sampia pitched five innings for the win, striking out eight.
“I definitely think it was one of my better games,” said Sampia. The sophomore said she threw with “a lot better spin” and also credited “having confidence in myself and knowing that my defense is behind me. I can’t necessarily strike every hitter out, but I know my defense is ready to make a play.”
Five Fishers players hit a double: Hammond, Shockley, Cook, Brooke Clayton and Jackson. Anna McGrath was perfect, going 3-for-3, while Hammond and Clayton both had two hits.
Westfield is 5-5-1 overall and plays at the Kokomo Tournament this weekend. The Tigers were playing in their HCC opener and are 10-3 overall. Fishers hosts Lawrence North this afternoon.
