Elgin knocks off Larkin again

A new bat and an opposite-field approach Thursday really benefitted Elgin’s Jennah Perryman.

The freshman hit 2 home runs, including one to right field, and drove in 3 runs to help the Maroons beat crosstown rival Larkin, 10-3, in Upstate Eight River Division softball action, giving the Maroons a sweep of the season series.

“I guess (the new bat) helped me out a little bit,” said Perryman, who now has 5 home runs. “It’s the same size. It just has more pop on it if you hit hard.”

Elgin coach Chad Dahlman has been trying to get Perryman to go to right field more and was pleased to see her fifth-inning solo home run go that way.

“If she starts hitting the ball to the opposite field, she’ll start hitting with a lot more power,” Dahlman said. “Today she hit the ball up the middle and to the right side.”

Perryman’s first home run, a 2-run shot, came in a 4-run third inning. Hannah Perryman and Kelly Bremer each had an RBI in the inning. Hannah Perryman, who had 2 doubles, drove in another run in the fourth for a 5-0 Elgin lead.

The Maroons (17-13, 6-10) increased the lead to 9-0 in the sixth. Jaclyn Navarro had a 2-run double and Bremer had another RBI single. Kenyatta Scales singled and scored in the seventh for Elgin’s final run.

Hannah Perryman, Bremer, Jennah Perryman, Monica Stockman and Navarro all had 2 hits for Elgin.

“You’re going to score runs when you hit up and down the lineup,” Dahlman said.

Hannah Perryman (9-4) struck out 12 to earn the victory. She allowed 5 hits and 3 earned runs and walked five.

The Royals (9-20, 2-10) had the leadoff batter on in three of the first four innings but were unable to score. They finally broke through in the sixth. Corinne Wimmer led off with a double. After two walks to load the bases, Jaclyn Saurbaugh singled to bring in Wimmer. A wild pitch brought in another run, but that would be all Larkin would get as Hannah Perryman struck out three batters in a row to end the inning.

Larkin added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a Anna Esterino run-scoring single.

“I thought our approach at the plate in the first five innings was horrible,” Royals coach Larry Hight said. “They started swinging the last two innings and we got some runs.”