The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Offensive fury fuels Hornet wins
Saline outscores opponents 75-16 over eight-game stretch
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 1, 2008
In the sixth inning of the Hornets' second game at the Saline Invitational on Saturday, sophomore pitcher Kayla Brophy came to the plate for the first time this season.
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"I was pretty nervous," she admitted.
After all, she hadn't batted in a game since summer ball.
She needn't have been too worried. She led the inning off with a single to right that shot past the Allen Park second baseman.
Up 11-2 at the start of the inning, the Hornets would go on to score six runs on two outs, batting around and giving Brophy a chance for her second hit of the year. She reached first on a passed third strike.
With her lead-off single, Brophy became the latest Hornet to join an offensive juggernaut that has become a trademark of Saline's season and carried them to a 7-1 record in their last eight games.
In the past week, Saline (14-3) has outscored opponents 75-16. On the season, the Hornets have driven in 140 runs to opponents' 44. Saline has yet to be shutout. The fewest runs the Hornets have scored is two, which has happened twice and accounts for two of their losses. They have scored 10 or more runs in eight games.
"Our team is so powerful, I don't think people have much of an answer for us," said coach Dawn Whitford.
The lineup is producing from top to bottom. In a 10-0 win over Chelsea April 24, eight of the runs came from the five through nine hitters.
Senior Amanda Laurent, who bats at the lower end of the order, typifies the Hornets' success at the plate.
In the Allen Park game alone she went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs.
"It feels great to be hitting like this," she said. "There's a lot of energy in the dugout making sure we support each other no matter what happens."
"She's just really stepped up," said Whitford of Laurent's emergence as a force at the plate. "She is using every part of her body effectively. She's doing everything right."
The Hornets launched their offensive onslaught with a 4-0, 10-0 sweep of Chelsea last week.
"They were big wins for the program and show the long way we've come the past few years," said Whitford, who going into the doubleheader was 1-3 against the Bulldogs.
Lisa Brophy got the first win, striking out seven, walking three and allowing only two hits.
Emily Ouellette went 3-for-4 in the first game and had two hits in the nightcap. Kaitlin Ward, Haley Stevens, Lindsy Robison and Joanna Walker each recorded doubles.
In the nightcap, Amara Karapas homered to left. Shana Campbell had two RBI and Lindsey Fairchild went 2-for-4. Kayla Brophy got the win, striking out four, and giving up only one walk and four hits.
At the Saline Invitational on Saturday, the Hornets cut through the opposition on its way to the finals, defeating Wyandotte 9-2, Allen Park 17-2 and Salem 10-3 before falling 7-6 in a nip-and-tuck game to Monroe.
In the run up to the finals, the Hornet offense was unrelenting. In the opener, Ouellette went 4-for-4, scored three runs and stole two bases. Ward and Lindsy Robison each had triples.
In the Allen Park rout, Saline had 19 hits, including contributions from Katy Black, who hit a triple, and Alissa Robison, who belted a three-run homer in the first. Walker, Laurent and Karapis each doubled. Kayla Brophy had 12 strikeouts and allowed the Jaguars only three hits.
"I felt good," said Kayla Brophy. "It helps knowing I've got good defense behind me."
In the win over Salem, Alissa Robison had a monster game, batting 3-for-5 with three RBI, a double, and two runs. Ward had a triple and Karapis a double.
Having earned the opportunity to win their own invitational, the loss to Monroe was hard fought for the Hornets.
"It was one of the best games I've had the opportunity to coach," said Whitford. "A lot of good things happened that game. I think we played our best ball of the day against Monroe."
Monroe went up 1-0 in the first, but the Hornets came back in the second to snatch a 3-1 lead. Monroe took advantage of some walks and an error to go up 6-3 in the fourth. Saline scored once in the fifth and again in the sixth to tie the game heading into the seventh, but Monroe sneaked out an additional run for the win.
The Hornets capped the week off with 9-1 and 10-0 victories over Dexter.
Walker collected five hits in the doubleheader, scored five times and drove in three runs.
"She's done a phenomenal job stepping up this year," Whitford said of the junior who got the chance to start when senior Katie Chapman went down with a broken finger. "She's taken advantage of every opportunity she can."
Saline's next great challenge is Thursday when the Hornets take on powerhouse Tecumseh on the road.
"The key to a win is going in there with confidence and focusing on what we've been doing," Whitford said. "We need to keep playing Saline softball for seven innings and keep attacking the offense."
The Hornets are ready to make a statement and draw confidence from one another.
"We work so well together," Kayla Brophy said. "The girls all support one another. I think that's one of the reasons we're doing so well this year - the team is there for one another."
"We've set some pretty high goals, but we can make them," Laurent said. "We just take one game at a time."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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