Rejuvenated bats push XCP past Perry

Xavier Prep's softball players talk strategy. (Photos by Sr. Lynn Winsor).

Now that was more like it.

After a pair of gut-wrenching losses, Xavier Prep’s softball team put itself back on track in a big way on Tuesday (March 29), scoring a 13-3 victory over visiting Gilbert Perry in a game that was shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.

Amazingly, it was only the second loss of the season for Perry (17-2), while Xavier moved itself up to 11-4.

The Gators watch teammate Lauren Putz cross the plate on one of her two home runs.

The Gators play again at Petznick Field on Friday (April 1) with a game against Mesa Red Mountain. It will be a rematch of last year’s 6A state championship game won by Xavier. First pitch is at 3:45 p.m.

Xavier brought out the big bats against Perry. The Gators ripped three home runs, two by sophomore infielder Lauren Putz and one by senior shortstop Bridget Donahey.

Donahey had four RBIs for the game, Putz three.

Xavier senior ace Riley Flynn fires a pitch to a Perry hitter.

Senior pitcher Riley Flynn got credit for the victory, giving up three runs on four hits, two of them home runs. She also struck out six and did not walk a batter.