Xavier has had a competitive softball rivalry with Phoenix
Horizon over the years, and Thursday’s (April 16) encounter at Petznick Field
was no different.
The game featured plenty of hitting, plenty of plays – “a
state-tournament feel,’’ according to Xavier coach Bobby Pena.
There were several lead changes and top-ranked Xavier
(azcentral.com) broke a 6-6 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth
inning and held on for a 9-6 victory over the fourth-ranked Huskies.
It was the Gators’ second win in as many days, and the
Gators can make it three on Friday night (April 17) when they play a home game
against Mesa Dobson. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Xavier can earn its 20th
win of the season – it is 19-4. Horizon dropped to 18-7.
“We’ve been working a lot on our hitting, working on
specific things (vs. Horizon). We had a visual plan,’’ Pena said. “Hitting is
about making positive adjustments.’’
Horizon ace Tamara “T’’ Statman is in her fourth year on the
varsity, and many of the Gators have played with or against her in club ball.
Xavier scored twice in the first and picked up two more in
the second. Statman brought the Huskies closer with a two-run, opposite-field
home run to left in the third. Some actually thought the ball had bounced over
the fence for a ground-rule double, but the umpires allowed Statman to jog
around the bases.
Horizon came back for a 5-4 lead with three runs in the
fifth, Xavier went up 6-5 with two in its half of the fifth and Horizon tied it
at 6 with a run in the top of the sixth.
Gators third baseman Sam Sydenham had a tough half inning on
defense in the sixth. The Huskies’ leadoff hitter smashed a ball directly at
Sydenham, who reacted a split second too late when blinded by the afternoon
sun, and the ball went into left field.
Sydenham booted the ball hit to her by the next batter, and
Statman later came to the plate with one out and hit the first pitch from
reliever Caitlyn Dickman into right field for a run-scoring single. Dickman and
starter Emily Richards combined their efforts in the circle.
In the sixth, Xavier’s first batter, center fielder Megan
Donahey, lit the match as she has all season.
The left-handed hitter showed bunt on the first pitch from
Statman, then deposited a ball down the right-field line for a double. With one
out, Amanda Preach gave Xavier a 7-6 lead with a triple to the right-field
corner.
Sydenham responded with a shot at the Horizon third baseman,
the same type of play that Sydenham had in the top of the inning. The sun
allowed the ball to fly past the third baseman’s head and into left field,
allowing Preach to score. Annamarie Hartman drove in the final XCP run with a
single.
Sydenham also had a hit in the fifth inning and went to
second when the left fielder misplayed the ball. Sydenham said it was good to
make solid contact in her last two at-bats.
“I think we were more anxious because we have played against
Tamara many times, but we know if we stay patient, we will have our chance to
hit,’’ Sydenham said.
“This felt like a playoff game, but we are focused and we
fight through things. We’re all friends and we have great team chemistry.’’
No comments:
Post a Comment