Steinert outlasts cold in win over Lawrence
LAWRENCE » The proverbial “Joy of Spring” was just a myth at Lawrence High Tuesday.
It took 15 walks, seven errors and 2-1/2 hours of softball in frigid temperatures before Steinert finally emerged with a 15-3 victory at Lawrence in a CVC Patriot Division match-up.
It was the fourth straight win for the Spartans (5-2), who collected five of their 12 hits in a five-run seventh to completely bust it open. By then, every fielder was blowing their hands and stomping their feet to keep circulation moving.
“It was really hard but it just came down to staying loose, keeping yourself warm and just seeing the ball,” said Steinert rightfielder Taylor Hawkes. “It can be (hard to focus) because the cold can get into your head. But in this game, you couldn’t let that happen, you had to stay in it.”
Hawkes stayed in it as she scored four runs and reached base all five times with three walks and two hits. Nicole Cerasi drew three walks and scored twice from her leadoff spot, while catcher Alex Haley collected a walk, two hits and three runs scored after being DP’d for her first two times up.
For most of the game, however, it was another offensive struggle for the Spartans, who mixed in a few key hits amongst the walks and errors.
“The elements are not great for either of the teams so that impacts the game a little bit,” Steinert coach Jean Ruppert said. “It’s no secret we really have not found our stride yet offensively. We’re trying to work on some things, trying to have better at-bats, that type of stuff.
“There are a lot of changes in the lineup from the kids last year that graduated, and new players taking on new roles, so it’s going to take a little time. We haven’t seen enough live pitching to get too concerned at this point, but we have to work at it.”
Steinert scored single runs in the first three innings on RBI singles by Kaylee Whittaker and Bella Truelove and an error that scored Carli Backlund. The Spartans took control with a five-run fifth that was keyed by Grace Gaskill’s two-run single.
Cora Bridgers cruised into the bottom of the fifth, having allowed just the first of two Haley Lestician doubles and two walks while striking out five. She ran into control issues, however, walking the bases loaded in the fifth before Juliette Harle and Lestician drove in runs.
“I think Cora threw really well,” Ruppert said. “I don’t know if she got a little tight. It is cold, you’re fingers start to get numb, it’s hard to grip your ball. But I thought she threw well in the beginning and Kaylee did a nice job coming in and shutting the door there. It’s nice to have that 1-2 combination and really go after any opponent you face.”
Whittaker was touched for two hits, a walk and a run in the sixth, but was mostly dominant with six strikeouts.
In the seventh, Steinert had its best offensive inning in several games as Bridgers and Hawkes had RBI singles and Darah Kelly had a 2-run single.
“That was nice,” Ruppert said. “We need to find that a little earlier in the game. I don’t know if they just dropped their shoulders and relaxed or started seeing the ball a little better or what the case may be.
“When we get a few games outside where it’s not 25 below zero, we may all be a little better.”
Steinert (5-2) 111 052 5 — 15 12 1 Lawrence (2-5) 000 002 1 — 3 3 6
WP: Bridgers. LP: Kiernan. 2B: S-Haley. L-Lestician 2. RBI: S-Cerasi, Gaskill 2, Whittaker, Bridgers, Hawkes, Truelove, Haley, Kelly 2. L-Lestician 2, Harle.
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