Panthers’ bats catch fire, EC remains atop GLC

Elyria Catholic’s bats at the top of the order were on peak form April 19 and did not let up.

In a Great Lakes Conference showdown against Westlake, the Panthers’ production was infectious to trickle down the rest of the batting order in a 14-5 road win.

“Nineteen hits total, that is a team effort,” Elyria Catholic coach Terrel Dixon said. “It is a testament to how much work they put in. They do things that are going to make them better and consistent. … The bats came out, and hopefully that continues.”

The top four hitters in the lineup, Lillian Ciryak, Jessica Conner, Hannah Brooks and Savannah Dixon combined for 12 of the team’s 19 hits and drove in nine runs. Nine of Elyria Catholic’s hits were doubles or triples.

“It was a lot of fun seeing the people (down the batting order) get hits. It was fun to see the domino effect that everyone had on (their teammates),” Conner said.

Conner swung with efficiency to bat 4-for-5 and power to hit three straight extra-base hits, two of which were back-to-back doubles.

“I normally do not swing at the first pitch, because it’s normally not going to be a good pitch (to swing at). I wait for the pitch. When I see the pitch that I like, I swing,” she said.

The Panthers started Harper Morgan, who threw 3 1/3 innings and gave up no earned runs, two hits and a walk. She also struck out four Demons. Freshman Kailey Tomasch earned the save.

“I was so excited to play, especially because I didn’t get to play Westlake the first time. I wasn’t allowed to play, at that point,” Morgan said. “There was an energy that my team had. We were hyped on the bus ride here and when we got here. Everybody came ready to play.”

Tomasch was one of Elyria Catholic’s batters at the end of the lineup who found the bat on the ball. She nearly repeated the home run she had against Westlake earlier in the season, but bounced off the wall for a double.

“I thought we battled at the beginning of the game, but the hits definitely came for (Elyria Catholic),” Westlake coach Traci Edmunds said. “They had a great game, hitting-wise. They hit gap shots and did a great job of running the bases. Defensively, I have to say that their pitchers did really well. We got a few hits here and there, but we have to hit one-through-nine if we want to win a game.”

Elyria Catholic scored two runs in the first innings. Morgan and the defense had two outs with a full-count and a runner on third. Her changeup struck out the Demons’ batter to end the inning scoreless.

“She had a five-to-sevenpitch inning, and that is efficient,” Coach Dixon said. “She doesn’t need to strike everyone out, and that is what she is learning. The defense is behind her. She continues to hit her spots. As she continues to work back from her injury, she continues to (hit her spots).”

The Demons strung hits together in the seventh inning to score three runs off three hits. Riley Knapp, Maeve Stofko and Katherine England each recorded two hits. England got on base in all four of her atbats.

Westlake had runners in scoring position two more times in the second and third innings. However, Elyria Catholic’s defense made plays to end the inning with minimal damage, despite an error in the second inning.

Elyria Catholic remained as one of the premier GLC teams, with a 6-3 (5-1 in GLC) record. The Panthers have won six of their last seven games and completed the season sweep against Westlake and will play North Olmsted on April 22.

Westlake dropped to 2-7 (1-5 in GLC). The Demons will host their first of a backto-back against Bay on April 22.