Nelson throws shutout in Batavia's 5-0 win over Sandwich

Give Batavia an extra out at your own risk.

Sandwich did that in the first inning Thursday, then spent the rest of the day trying to catch up.

Avery Vivian's two-out, 2-run double after Sandwich dropped a pop-up on the preceeding play turned out to be all the offense Batavia needed in a 5-0 victory - its first of the season.

"You never know when you are going to get another opportunity like that so if the opponent gives you an opportunity, you really have to take advantage of it," Batavia coach Leon Pedraza said.

Vivian slammed an outside pitch into the right center gap. The junior is in her first year on varsity and finished 2-for-3, reaching base all three times and scoring 2 runs to go with her 2 RBI.

"We're working on communication and working as a team and trying to do everything as a team," Vivian said. "It's going well."

The dropped pop-up in the first was the first of 5 errors by Sandwich (2-1). The Bulldogs (1-1) also scored 2 runs in the fourth when Sandwich couldn't come up with Kelly Coleman's fly to deep left field.

Shortstop Alexa Schofield drove in the final run with a bases-loaded single in the sixth.

"Good win today," Pedraza said. "Girls were hitting well, our defense is improving, we stil have some work to do but overall a good solid win and everyone got a chance to contribute."

That included freshman Katie Coleman who made her varsity debut by going 3-for-3. The center fielder is also the team's No. 2 pitcher and will make her first start Saturday against Morris.

"We were excited to see her out there," Pedrazza said. "Katie looked really good. We're really excited to have her."

The 5 runs were more than enough for sophomore Brooke Nelson, who scattered 5 hits and only allowed a runner into scoring position in the fourth. A nice diving stop by second baseman Kelly Coleman and then one of Nelson's 5 strikeouts got Batavia out of the inning.

"She did a pretty good job keeping us on our heels," Sandwich coach Randy Malloy said. "They are a good ballclub. They swung the bat well, made contact, were aggressive on the basebaths.

"We made a lot of mistakes. You take away all the errors and the game is 1-0."

In her first start of the year last week against Minooka, Nelson struggled with the flu.

"Today she looked much sharper," Pedraza said. "Her stuff was moving, she had good control, good command."