Braves softball aiming toward 'second season'
Friday, May 09, 2008
Talawanda's softball team will begin tournament play next week with some momentum derived from an outstanding week with three wins in four games last week.
The team added another win to the mix with a 20-10 win Monday, May 5, in a game against Valley View for a 10-14 season record.
Extras
The Braves swept a pair of Fort Ancient Valley Conference wins over Norwood, 27-1 and 14-0, and defeated Franklin County, Ind., 9-0. The loss was an 8-0 defeat at West Carrollton.
The win over Franklin County was a solid win with pitching, hitting and defense.
Kaitlyn Fields pitched a complete game to run her season record to 5-7. She gave up four hits and struck out three in the shutout win.
The Braves got off to a strong start on offense with four runs in the first inning, including three from a homerun by Ashlie Villarreal, who finished the game with two hits in three at-bats.
Shelby Colyer had a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a double.
"We had solid defensive play," coach Melissa Metzger said of the day's effort. "We did not commit an error. It's been a while since that happened."
One night earlier, Talawanda beat Norwood 14-0 in five innings on the team's Senior Night.
"We had a lot of hitting," Metzger said.
Colyer was 2-of-4 with a double and homerun, three runs scored and an RBI. Hers was one of four homers in the game.
C.J. Roseman had one, along with a double, for three RBIs that night with three runs scored, getting two hits in four at-bats. Alicia Kimball had another homer with two RBIs. Kelly Harp added a homer with two RBIs.
Natalie Pierce turned in a 3-for-4 day at the plate with three RBIs and two runs.
Winning pitcher was Fields, who walked only one batter and struck out six in the shutout.
Fields also took the only loss last week, an 8-0 defeat to West Carrollton as the Braves mustered little offense. The team had only four hits in the game, struck out more than twice that many times, with 10.
Monday's game last week, was all Talawanda, with everything working the Braves' way in a 27-1 win.
The Braves finished last week with 9-14 overall record, including a 4-6 mark in FAVC play, good for fourth place in the Scarlet Division.
That was not the record, Metzger said she hoped for when the 2008 season started. The team started with optimism abounding and looked for a better mark.
"I am disappointed with the overall record. It's not indicative of the players we have," Metzger said. "We did not play up to our full potential."
Last week, however, provided a boost of optimism as they prepared for the final action of the regular season and next week's home postseason tournament game at home with Clinton-Massie at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.
"Last year, we had a good tournament run and we hope to equal or better that run this year," Metzger said.
That won't be easy, however. The Braves find themselves in a tough sectional with Ross and Valley View among other solid contenders.
"We want to be prepared," Metzger said. "Everybody goes back to 0-0 so it's one and done."
Last week will be remembered as a bright spot for 2008, however.
"We had three wins this week. It's been a good week," she said.
That continued this week as the Braves won Monday, May 5, over Valley View.
Fields was the winning pitcher with a complete game, striking out eight and walking only two.
Leading the offense was Villarreal, who went 4-for-4 with 2 triples, one homerun and 9 RBIs. Colyer was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a stolen base and three runs scored.
Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139 or bratterman@coxohio.co
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