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Whitney Young finds the range against Leyden

As one of the premier programs in the state, Whitney Young's girls basketball players know how to hit their shots.

The school's softball players showed on Tuesday they know how to hit the gaps.

The Dolphins belted a season-high 13 hits en route to a 16-4 five-inning triumph over Leyden in Franklin Park.

Young (2-1) is young on the diamond with only two seniors starters back from a 27-10 team last spring.

It was a freshman making her first start who earned the win.

Rookie Brianna Nykaza made her debut on the mound by tossing a 6-hitter with 2 strikeouts and no walks.

She also earned the respect of the Leyden defense by going 3-for-4 with 2 doubles from the No. 2 spot in the batting order.

"Her control was excellent," said Dolphins 10-year veteran coach Mike Hinrichs. "She pitched well against quality team like Leyden."

It was the first loss for the Eagles (3-1) after a doubleheader sweep over Taft and a win over Fenton.

"We really didn't test their defense as much as we should have," said Leyden coach Kurt Schuett, whose team turned a triple play against Taft last Saturday. "It's as simple as that.

"We lacked a lot of momentum. It seems like we were tired. The fact we are on spring break makes it even worse. The kids sleep in, and you're not in your regular routine."

The Dolphins were in a hitting routine, hit safely in every inning, including the fourth when they collected 4 runs on 4 hits.

Senior Sam Bergoff (10 RBI in three games) had a big 2-run single in the inning while Natalie Magnus and Jessica Perez each added RBI singles.

The Dolphins started the game with four straight hits from sophomore shortstop Ashley Bravo, Nykaza, Bergoff (2-for-3, 4 RBI) and cleanup batter Magnus (2-for-2, 3 RBI).

Bergoff was robbed of a third hit by Leyden left fielder Abby Grande, who made a sprawling catch to her left on Bergoff's rocket in the second inning.

Leyden center fielder Becca Johnson (1-for-2, double) also made a nice diving catch to rob freshman Emma Garcia (1-for-3, 2 RBI) in the first inning.

"Becca played a nice game," Schuett said. "She showed her defense on that catch and had that long double (to left) in the second inning. And she's fast, she is a triple threat.

"And Abby (Grande), who made the nice catch in left, is going to have good year. She had good games against Taft and Fenton, too."

Eagles four-year varsity player and pitcher Kendall Duwall (2-1), who collected 5 home runs last spring, belted her first this season.

Her 2-run blast came with no outs and scored Carly Culotta, who had walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth.

Duwall ended up 2-for-3 while teammates Jodi DuBrock, Lauren Vermilyer (1-for-2), Tara Mackey (1-for-2) were others who had a hit for the hosts.

Eight different Dolphins had hits, including sophomore third baseman Katie Negron (2-for-4, double, RBI) and junior second baseman Yazmin Hernandez who also walked and scored a run.

"This was an excellent win for us," Hinrichs said. "They're (Leyden) a good team, and I'm very pleased with how we played overall."

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