The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Saline looking to get back in swing
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2007
Nothing is coming easy for the Saline varsity softball team right now.
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The wins are hard and the losses are harder.
In the past week, the Hornets swept a double header, split one and got swept to compile a 3-3 record over the span of six days.
Saline defeated Monroe Jefferson 11-9 and 6-1 last Tuesday, but it wasn't easy.
The Hornets mounted an 8-1 lead after the second inning and looked to be cruising to their fourteenth win of the season. But the Bears were bees that wouldn't go away. It was 8-2 after three, 8-5 after four, 8-6 after five, and then Jefferson took a one-run lead after scoring three runs in the sixth.
"We got up 8-1 in the second and we thought we were done," said coach Dawn Whitford of the sudden turn in fortune. "It's a matter of becoming complacent. They can't let up for seven innings."
Saline salvaged the game by scoring three runs in the seventh.
The Hornets recorded 12 hits in the game, including two from Emily Ouellette, Kelsey Smith and Juliet Dawson, who had a double and a triple. Alissa Robison compiled three hits, including a triple. Lisa Brophy had four strikeouts while giving up nine hits and two walks..
In the nightcap, Saline found itself down a run in the first but came back to score five in the third and again in the fifth to put the game away.
It didn't get any easier last Thursday against Bedford. Both games of the doubleheader went nine innings.
In the opener, the Hornets entered the seventh down 3-1, but found the resolve to score two runs to force extra innings. Bedford, however, went on to win 10-3 after a seven-run ninth inning that saw Saline commit five errors and give up a triple and a single.
"It's difficult to fight that hard to get back into the game and then you get into the ninth and have a mental breakdown and fold," admitted Whitford. "But it wasn't the ninth inning that killed us - it was innings one through seven. We didn't come out and play the way we can."
The Hornets bounced back in the second game by eking out a 5-4 win in the ninth.
Saline took a 1-0 lead in the second, but Bedford tied it in the third. The game remained tied until the seventh when the Mules went up 2-1.
With two outs and Robison on second, Julie Grech doubled to right to score Robison and tie the game.
Bedford responded with two runs in the top of the ninth to go up 4-2, but in the Hornet's half of the inning, Ouellette led off with a single followed by a Townsend walk. Dawson's double scored Ouellette and an Amanda Laurent bunt loaded the bases for Alicia McCormick.
McCormick got behind in the count early 0-2, but stubbornly worked the Bedford pitcher to draw a walk and bring in the tying run.
Smith then came to the plate and sent a rope to left to score Dawson for the winning RBI.
The tough games were only getting started.
The Hornets dropped two to Chelsea Monday night, 9-6 and 2-1.
In the first game against the Bulldogs, Saline picked up a 3-0 lead in the third but gave it away in the bottom half on a walk, a hit batter and a 3-run homer.
In the fourth, Chelsea extended their lead with a five-run inning. The Hornets scored three runs in the sixth, but it wasn't enough.
"We're leaving too many runners on base," said Whitford. "We're not moving them the way we need to. We need to capitalize with runners on."
In the second game, the Hornets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first, but then never scored again. Chelsea pushed a single run across in the second and got the victory with another run in the bottom of the seventh off a lead-off double, a sacrifice bunt, and a single.
"We need to fight through all the spring distractions," said Whitford. "It's all about heart right now. I want fighters. I want kids who can overcome adversity."
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