Hitting with Authority: County softball teams are thriving early on

0
588
The Eastern Hancock softball team has already shattered the program’s single-season home run record this spring. Tied at 16 overall entering this past weekend, the 2021 Royals surpassed the mark and are rewriting history with nine hitters accounting for 19 home runs already this season. (photo provided by Carey Willis)

CHARLOTTESVILLE — After the Eastern Hancock softball team lost its season opener 4-3 against New Palestine on the road exactly a month ago, Royals head coach Terry Stephens wasn’t overly concerned.

If anything, he was impressed with how well his Class 2A Royals competed against the six-time state champion Dragons, who were a year removed from claiming a third straight 3A title and is now in the hunt for a 4A crown.

“This team can hit one through nine,” Stephens remarked. “I’m not worried about that.”

Against the 4A Dragons, who are currently ranked fifth in the state, the Royals posted six hits, including five singles.

It was only the beginning, however.

Now, ranked sixth in the state, the 2A Royals have not only caught fire at the plate, they haven’t lost a game since March 22, while steadily climbing the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association’s softball poll.

The Royals own a 10-1 record, winning 10 consecutive games through the 2021 season’s first four weeks, and they are amassing victories behind a record-setting home-run pace.

Prior to the team’s 15-1, run-rule win in five innings over Tri at home this Saturday, the Royals entered the game tied for the program’s single-season record for home runs at 16 set in 2011.

Three home runs later, the 2021 Royals set a new mark at 19. On Monday, they added to the running total with two more homers during a 15-1, five-inning victory over host Morristown for 21 overall.

Nine Royals have contributed to the record-setting production this year, including: freshman Sammie Bolding, freshman Brooklyn Willis (four HRs), sophomore Kaylee Kline (two HRs), junior Kaylee Stewart (two HRs), sophomore Emma Bolding (two HRs), junior Caroline Stapleton (one HR), sophomore Grace Stapleton (one HR), junior Sydni Bednarski (one HR) and junior Taylor Koch (one HR).

Against Morristown, Sammie Bolding blasted a pair of home runs to give her a team-leading seven in 38 at-bats. On the season, the newcomer is hitting .526 (20-for-38) with 26 RBI and three doubles.

As a team, the Royals carry a .446 batting average with 122 RBI, 153 runs scored and 57 extra-base hits.

Individually, Sammie Bolding ranks eighth in the state for home runs, regardless of classification, according to MaxPreps, and tied for No. 1 in 2A with Winamac junior Ella Gearhart. Bolding is first in RBI for 2A and sixth overall.

The Royals have seven players with 11 or more RBI this year with Willis second on the team with 17 and Kline seventh-best at 11. Among the team’s top run producers, their batting averages range from .281 to Caroline Stapleton’s .657 (23-for-35).

The runs have piled up at a consistent rate for the Royals with 13.9 per contest and include seven run-rule victories (six in five innings).

Eastern Hancock has surpassed 10 or more RBI in a game seven times this season and have only had two games to date with fewer than double digit hits (six twice). The Royals’ top-hitting game came against Tri (17).

Not to be overshadowed, the Royals’ pitching has contributed to the streak, especially senior Maddie Turner, the team’s ace.

Turner has a 6-1 record in eight appearances with a 3.06 ERA, 48 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched and only nine walks issued. Her batting average against is .243.

Madison Stephens isn’t far behind at 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in 24.2 innings with 33 strikeouts and a .178 batting average against.

Moved up four spots from No. 10 in the ICGSA weekly rankings on Monday, coach Stephens’ opening-day assessment continues to stand correct.

At 2-0 in the Mid-Eastern Conference and a hitting lineup built to contend, the Royals have an opportunity in the near future to gain even more ground.

Today, the Royals host MEC foe Monroe Central and then travel to league opponent Cowan on Thursday. On Monday, April 26, they play host to 2A No. 4 Alexandria-Monroe, which is 10-1 on the year.

Dragons, Marauders keep winning

The fifth-ranked New Palestine softball team was bumped up to 4A after winning three consecutive 3A state titles due to the IHSAA’s success factor prior to the 2020 season.

While the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out last year’s spring sports season, the Dragons have made a seamless transition in 2021, venturing through their 4A debut at a perfect 8-0.

While a surprise for some, who wondered how the Dragons would fare in the state’s largest classification this spring, the team’s record and production is nothing new to senior Lexi Campbell and her teammates.

“Personally, I feel a lot of people underestimated us as a team coming into it because they knew we lost a lot of seniors going into this year, and I think it’s great to just go out there and prove people wrong,” Campbell remarked after the Dragons beat 4A Carmel 5-1 on Friday. “We’re putting a lot of runs, and it’s always a different person. Our team is just so dynamic and it’s so great.”

New Palestine’s win against Carmel signified the program’s sixth straight over a 4A foe, beginning with a 5-4 triumph against 4A No. 18 Avon at home on April 7.

The Dragons run ruled 4A Plainfield 14-0 on April 9, and last week they traveled to 4A East Central, winning 8-1, went to Franklin Central and won 10-8 before besting 4A Hamilton Southeastern by run-rule 14-2 on Thursday.

“I felt like we could compete at the 4A level when I was here my sophomore year because we played primarily 4A competition, but I think a week like this definitely helps prove we’re something to not overlook,” Campbell said.

The Dragons are hitting .388 as a team with 80 runs scored in eight games.

The Dragons scored 37 runs last week alone, while Campbell, an Akron recruit, charged out with four home runs and 11 RBI in that span. She has six home runs overall and 18 RBI.

The Dragons have 92 hits this season and connected for 31 last week.

The Dragons open Hoosier Heritage Conference play today at home against 3A No. 4 Yorktown, who New Palestine beat for their last 3A state title game in 2019.

However, the key game on the schedule is Thursday when the Dragons host HHC rival 4A No. 20 Mt. Vernon.

The Marauders are 9-1 and have won nine straight games since losing to 4A No. 23 Zionsville 8-5 on March 30 to open the season.

The Dragons will travel to Zionsville on Wednesday.

Mt. Vernon warmed up for the rivalry game on Monday night with a 19-3, five-inning win over host New Castle behind an 18-hit attack.

Prior to the Marauders’ fifth run-rule win this year, the lineup was hitting an impressive .453 with 21 home runs and 126 runs scored.

Six players have 10 RBI or more and eight have hit home runs led by seniors Molly Buck and Maddie Taylor with four apiece.

Taylor and senior Karlee Franklin have formed a formidable due in the circle for the Marauders. Each pitcher has three wins over eight total appearances and a combined 65 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched.

Cougars get back on track

The Greenfield-Central softball team dropped two straight games last week to 4A Noblesville and 4A Fishers, but it course corrected with a 14-4, run-rule win in five innings over Scecina Memorial on Friday.

On Monday, they won their HHC opener at home against Delta, 17-5, in five innings to win their second in a row after opening the year 6-0.

The Cougars (8-2) are 1-0 in the HHC, a game behind Mt. Vernon (2-0) with Shelbyville at 4-0 in league play.

Greenfield-Central’s bats awoke against Delta for six extra-base hits, including home runs by Morgan Hornaday, Ellie Ewald, Olivia Roberts and Ella Redmon.

Ewald leads the team with four home runs and is hitting .593. Camille Burelison is the team’s top RBI producer with 27 in 10 games.

Burelison was 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI against Delta. Roberts drove in two RBI along with Ewald, who went 2-for-3. Hornaday had a field day, though, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and six RBI.

Redmon was 3-for-4 with three RBI and Mallorie Fultz (1-for-3) had two RBI.

The Cougars have 30 doubles, 16 home runs and 121 runs scored this season.

They have a trio of HHC games ahead beginning at home against Shelbyville on Tuesday, April 27, followed by a home game against 3A No. 4 Yorktown and away at Mt. Vernon on Friday, April 30.