Lady Lions play HR derby to get first ‘W’ of season
BREMEN - the long ball has become a huge weapon in basketball, but it can also play a large role in a softball game.
Saturday afternoon it was the difference as Bremen pounded four home runs on its way to a 17-3 win over Northwood. the game was shortened to four-and-a-half innings due to the mercy rule and the victory evens the Lady Lions’ record at 1-1.
“I’m really happy with the girls,” said Bremen head coach Mike Huppert. “they came out really wanting to hit.”
Although the wind was blowing out at Pfeiffer Field in Sunnyside Park, all four dingers were no-doubters. Gretchen Willis started the barrage with a two-run shot off the scoreboard behind the left-field fence in the first inning and that may have been the shortest of the four bombs.
Winning pitcher Hanna Depoy added another tworun blast in the second inning, then in the third, Katie Moyer smashed a three-run shot and Jaylin Swint added yet another two-run HR as part of an eight-run uprising and a 15-0 lead.
“they were all legit shots,” continued Huppert. “the wind could have been blowing sideways and they still would have
“The wind could have been blowing sideways and they still would have been out of here.” Bremen softball coach Mike Huppert
been out of here. those were nice.”
Most encouraging for Huppert though, is the offensive outburst was spread throughout the lineup. Batters Nos. 6 - 9 finished with seven hits, eight RBIS, and scored nine runs.
“When the bottom of the order is doing that, you have to be happy as heck,” added Huppert. “We have been working a lot on hitting. If we hit like that, we can have three errors. I’m not happy about those errors and they will cost you in a 4-3 game, but when we are hitting the ball well and scoring 6+ runs per game, we’ll be fine.”
there were plenty of offensive stars, led by Willis, who finished
3-for-3 with three RBIS and two runs scored.
“We know what she can do,” Huppert said of the junior third baseman who was hitting in the cleanup spot Saturday. “She has a strong bat. She has strong legs. She can hit the ball. We’re going to need that from her.”
Other standout offensive stats came from Mickey Shively (2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIS), Swint (2-2, 3 runs, 3 RBIS), Moyer (2-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIS), and Nora Smessart (2-2, 2B, 1 run, RBI).
Depoy did not walk a batter and struck out four in four innings of work from the circle. She was perfect through the first three innings, then allowed all four hits and the three runs in the fourth inning. Naomi Flores, a transfer from California, struck out three in her one inning of relief.
“Hanna was throwing hard and getting ahead of the hitters,” Huppert said of Depoy. “They hit the ball hard the first inning, but we made three good plays defensively then she came out and settled down after that. Naomi doesn’t know what Bremen softball is all about yet, but she will. She has a great changeup and used it well. She’s going to be a nice weapon for us.”
Bremen travels to Central Noble for its next game on Tuesday before returning home to face Laville on Wednesday.
• BREMEN 17, N’WOOD 3 At Bremen
Northwood 000 30 - 3 4 2 Bremen 258 2x - 17 15 3 Ashlyn Brooke, Carly Mast (3), Autumn Miller (3) and Paige Jacobs; Hanna Depoy, Naomi Flores (5) and Jaylin Swint.
2B: Nora Smessart (B), Lili Lomeli (NW)
HR: Gretchen Willis (B), Depoy (B), Katie Moyer (B), Swint (B)