The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
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Saline power surge too much for New Boston
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 19, 2007
Where to start?
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How about the seventh-inning, two-out, two-run blast from Juliet Dawson Tuesday night in Saline's 4-2 win over New Boston Huron in the first game of a doubleheader?
Or.
How about Alissa Robison's eight RBI coming off a grand slam and a 3-run shot in the 12-3 Hornet win in the nightcap?
Or maybe just the fact that the Saline varsity softball team had five homeruns on the night and had three balls hit the top of the fence before dropping back into the field?
"These kids are ready to play," said a jubilant coach Dawn Whitford. "I'm loving it."
The Hornets are now 4-0 to start the season.
In the dramatic 4-2 win, junior pitcher Lisa Brophy struck out four while allowing three hits and six walks.
"They had a lot of runners on base, but [Brophy] did a good job keeping her composure and letting the defense get us out of jam," said Whitford.
The Hornets scored once in the first and again in the fourth, leading up to Dawson's clutch homerun in the seventh.
Dawson went 2-for-3, tossing in a triple for good measure. Katie Chapman had a solo homerun. Senior Megan Townsend went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored while Robison went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.
The Hornets were just warming up.
In the 12-3 trouncing, Saline scored in every inning but the fifth.
Dawson hit her second homerun of the night with a solo shot to left. Townsend went 4-for-5 with 3 runs scored while Emily Ouellette went 2-for-4 and scored twice. Katy Black went 2-for-3.
Robison's eight RBI took care of the rest.
Freshman pitcher Kayla Brophy struck out seven while giving up three walks and eight hits.
"[New Boston] was putting runners on base, but then just leaving them there," said Whitford.
In the span of four games, the Hornets have shown skill at the small ball and potential for the long ball. The players' conditioning and weight work in the off-season appears to be paying off.
Whitford is almost giddy with the results.
"This is a coach's dream," she said. "These kids are flying high right now."
And she isn't about to disrupt her team's mojo with any tweaking.
"My philosophy right now is if it ain't broke, don't fix it," she said. "I'm going to leave it alone until I'm proved wrong."
She's also going to let her players enjoy the ride, even though it is only four games into season.
"It's fun for the kids, fun for the coaches, and fun for the fans," she said.
The Hornets travel to Lincoln on Thursday and play in the Clinton Invitational on Saturday before returning to Saline to kick off a four-game home stand against Roosevelt on Tuesday.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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