The
Hawkins Cabinetry St Marys Mites had two games this past week as they looked to
move up the standings. On Monday they travelled
to Fullerton looking to earn back-to-back wins against the Fullerton
squad.
Action heated up quickly for the Mites as the leadoff three all drew walks to load the bases. A strikeout brought Shaylynn Ainslie to the plate and she cleared the bases with a triple to open the scoring. Lauren Gracey came to the plate after a St Marys strikeout and she took one for the team after being hit by a pitch and accepted the free pass. Anna Standeaven stepped into the box and drew a walk to load the bases for Angelina Vanderwal. Vanderwal was very patient and drew a base-on-ball while picking up an RBI. Sarah Lynch then stepped in and was the victim of the second hit batter of the inning while bringing in the fifth run to end the top of the first. Fullerton answered back with four in the bottom of the inning to make it 5 – 4. In the top of the second, Fullerton’s pitching continued to struggle as the first five batters were walked with Tianna Glousher and Elora Vanderwal picking up RBI’s making it 7 – 4. With the bases still loaded, Ainslie returned to the plate and was looking to one up her earlier triple. However, things turned “big league” with an apparent brush-back that caught Ainslie for the third hit batter of the game but allowed her to pick up her fourth RBI of the game. Chantel Johns then stepped up drawing the sixth walk of the inning bringing home another run making it 9 – 4. The stage was then set for Gracey as she drilled and RBI Triple, but unfortunately even with the bases loaded, only one run counted as the five run maximum was reached. The Mites would add another five runs in the third on RBI’s from Lynch, Julia Cameron, Natalie Johnson, Glousher and Vanderwal (Elora) who had a bases loaded triple but only one run was allowed to score due to the five run maximum. Offence played a huge part of the victory but it was defence that closed it out. In the bottom of the third with the bases loaded and Fullerton already scoring four, Johns snagged a hopper heading for the hole and applied the tag as the runner broke for second ending the game and preserving the 15 – 12 win.
On Wednesday, the Mites hosted Mitchell at Teddy’s Field. Taking the mound was Glousher and she was definitely on her game as she struck out three in the first. Of the seventeen batters she faced in the game, she struck out ten while pitching four shutout innings earning a 13 – 0 complete game win. The St Marys defence did their part as well to ensure the shut out with some outstanding plays. In the top of the third after a rare lead-off walk, the Mitchell player stole second, and was feeling a little greedy as she attempted to steal third. However, catcher Standeaven scooped up the passed ball and gunned it to Cameron on third who applied the tag and remove the threat. They say good defence keeps you in games, but without offence you would not get anywhere. With thirteen runs, it was obvious the bats were flying and the legs were moving. Leading the way was Vanderwal (Elora) who hit a two-out, three run homer in the second and a two-run triple in the fourth. Also leading off the fourth, Cameron hit a solo homerun. Picking up RBI’s were: Ainslee; Standeaven; Johnson (2); Vanderwal (Angelina) (2); and Lynch who picked up an RBI after being hit by a pitch for the second time in two games to end the game.
Next up the Hawkins Mites travel to Tavistock on Tuesday.