HART – The bats for Hart softball simply couldn’t be stopped as they rolled to a doubleheader sweep of rival Shelby Tuesday, May 6.
The Pirates dominated in the first game of the night, stomping their way to a 16-0 win via mercy rule.
Shelby appeared to be up to the task against Hart’s ace in the circle, Reese Smith, creating good contact on their plate appearances. Unfortunately, after getting lead-off hitter Emma Stovall on base to start the game, two straight batters hit into fielder’s choice plays before Smith ended the frame on a strikeout.
Hart rebounded from a quick out on a pop fly from Mackenna Carrier to start the bottom of the second, rattling off quality at-bats. Caydence Bateson singled, Kelsey Copenhaver doubled to score Bateson, Maryn Klotz and Nora Chickering earned walks and Leah Walker ended it with a single. That had the score sitting at 4-0 by the time Shelby escaped the first inning.
The second inning is where the Pirates really did their damage. An astounding 12 runs crossed the plate before Shelby got up to bat to start the third inning.
Hart recorded 12 consecutive batters on base in the second before Shelby was able to force an out at the plate. Stovall did manage to pick off Hart’s Emma Thomas at first base in that stretch, but the damage had already been done.
With a 16-0 lead to start the third inning, Smith took care of Shelby with just four batters faced. That ended the first game early with the Tigers unable to get anything going offensively.
The biggest surprise of the night was the absence of Shelby’s freshman phenom Jayna Burmeister from the lineup. In lieu of that, Jordan Wolting was slated as the top pitcher. Wolting was given the loss in game one, surrendering 16 earned runs on 14 hits with two strikeouts.
Smith took the win for Hart, allowing just two hits through three innings and striking out four Shelby batters.
The nightcap was a bit more competitive, but still leaned heavily in favor of the Pirates as they took a 10-2 victory.
Hart was once again a nightmare at the plate, getting it going immediately in the top of the first. After a Bateson single, Copenhaver smashed one over the fence to put the Pirates on top 2-0. Smith also notched a triple in the same inning as Hart walked out with a 4-0 lead, similar to game one.
Both teams went a bit cold on offense after that point, jockeying for position with neither coming up with anything substantial.
Shelby cracked into the Hart lead in the bottom of the third inning. A string of fielding errors for Hart, mixed with a single from Wolting, allowed the Tigers to cut it to 4-2. The Pirates were quick to respond, putting the score at 8-2 in their favor.
Smith ended the game with an emphatic swing of the bat, powering a home run over the fence to make it two on the day for Hart.
Wolting took her second loss of the day in the pitching circle for Shelby, throwing a complete game but allowing six earned runs on 14 hits with two strikeouts. Copenhaver was efficient for Hart, allowing just two hits with no earned runs and 11 strikeouts.
Hart’s bats were led by Smith who went 6-for-7 on the night with five runs batted in (RBIs). Copenhaver went 5-for-8 with six RBIs while Bateson hit 4-for-6.
Shelby was led at the plate by Wolting who went 2-for-5 with one RBI while Stovall was 1-for-3.
The Pirates now stand at 15-5 overall with a 7-3 record in the WMC Rivers. Shelby fell to 11-5 overall and are now 6-4 in the WMC Rivers.
