The hot streak the Catawba Ridge softball team is on can only be described as relentless.
Three games, 42 runs scored, and zero runs allowed. Their game against the Easley Green Wave was no different on Tuesday, May 13 as they won 15-0 to advance to the District I finals hosting Indian Land at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14.
Catawba Ridge head coach Mike Mayak feels like his team has found another gear to improve to 26-2.
“It is contagious,” he said. “Everybody is contributing. We have four freshman starters. We have a lot of youth out here and it is fun to watch. For me it is great that everyone is contributing. From early in the season, we have been team building.”
The Copperheads started strong allowing just one hit in the top of the first inning. Offensively besides Jaidyn Harris getting hit by a pitch, the Copperheads couldn’t get anything going.
However, that didn’t last long as in the bottom of the second they exploded for 12 runs. In the bottom of the second inning, Mia Kovacs walked and Kyrsten Reynolds doubled. Charli Burney put the Copperheads on the board with a two-run double. Aloni Hogans singled in a run and a walk scored Burney. Sarah Rocheleau hit a bases clearing triple to put Catawba Ridge up 7-0. Kendra Murray smashed a two-run home run to keep things moving for the Copperheads as they batted around in the inning.
Back at the top of the lineup, Kovacs singled and Reynolds walked. Burney then hit a two-run double and eventually scored on a passed ball to make it 12-0.
Murray led the bottom of the third off with a single, but the Copperheads couldn’t plate a run.
Then in the fourth inning, Catawba Ridge finished Easley off. Hogans led the bottom of the fourth inning off with a walk but got caught stealing later in the inning. Harris followed her with a walk and BG Yates singled. Rocheleau walked to load the bases. Harris scored on a passed ball and Murray walked to once again load the bases. Kovacs got an RBI off a walk and Rocheleau scored on another passed ball to enforce the 15-run mercy rule.
Burney was 2-2 with four RBIs. Rocheleau was 1-3 with three RBIs and Murray was 2-3 with two RBIs. In the circle, Keira O’Brien pitched four innings allowing one hit, while walking three and striking out eight.
May 13 Roundup
The Catawba Ridge baseball team beat TL Hanna 4-0 on the road to improve to 20-7-1 overall on the season and move to the District II finals. Sam Schwamb went 2-2 to lead at the plate for the Copperheads and Caden Glauber went seven innings allowing two hits, while walking one and striking out 18.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ soccer team fell to Eastside 2-1 in two overtimes to finish the season at 17-7 overall.
Both the Fort Mill baseball and Nation Ford softball teams didn’t play due to their field conditions from recent rains. Both will try to play their playoff games tomorrow.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
