Softball: Batavia's bats get hot in win over Geneva
Batavia coach Torry Pryor never doubts Batavia's hitting ability.
"Our hitting is good. It's just, sometimes our defense is shaky a little bit," Pryor said after Batavia's 12-7 victory over Geneva on Wednesday. "But, besides [the defense], we can hit the ball with anybody, with the best of anybody."
The Bulldogs racked up 16 hits Wednesday, a testament to their patient, yet effective, approach at the plate. Bulldogs senior shortstop Alex Klein flexed her power swing to the tune of five RBI.
Klein typically bats leadoff, but she was dropped to the fifth spot in the order to maximize her ability to get on base and produce runs.
Evidently, it paid off.
"[Offensively, my season] has been going good," Klein said. "I've really just been focusing on making contact, putting the ball in play [and] forcing the defense to make the play," said Klein, who also reached on an error in the fourth inning.
"I definitely like to see what the pitcher has, watch what she's pitching," Klein continued. "And, then, once it's two strikes, just protect, swing at anything, make contact and just really battle up there and get the job done."
The Bulldogs (5-4, 2-3) are a "special" team to Klein because of their camaraderie.
"We just are so close as a team. All the players, we're always hanging out outside of softball; we're not just a team on the field but [also] outside of the sport," Klein said. "We just have a really close bond, and I think that really shows when we're out on the field and we work together. I think that has really helped us this season."
"A lot of us have been playing together for four years now," chimed in Bulldogs senior pitcher Betsy Thayer, who struck out 10 Vikings.
"I feel like we're really able just to pick each other up when we're down. We come back each game fresh and new," continued Thayer, who will not play softball collegiately, but instead will attend the University of Nebraska. "We're definitely friends off the field, and then when [we're] on the field, we just play a lot better and more cohesive."
Thayer's own pitching has met her expectations thus far in the season. Thayer struck out the side in the fifth inning.
"I feel like most days, I'm pretty on point," Thayer said. "Especially hitting my spots and stuff."
Geneva junior catcher Bre Venditti put the Vikings on the board with a first inning three-run home run, but Klein answered in the bottom half with a two-run single to cut Geneva's lead to 3-2. Vikings freshman outfielder Ally Ward followed up in the second inning with an RBI triple - but Batavia, again, responded.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases and after a Taily Kledzik strikeout, Olivia Singer came home after the ball skipped away in the infield to make it 4-3 Geneva. Bradey-Ann Saxon followed with a two-run double, which Klein matched in the next at-bat. Caroline Thomas followed with an RBI single to suddenly give Batavia a 8-4 advantage.
In the fourth, Geneva earned a run back to make it 8-5 after loading the bases with one out and Natalie Christensen was able to reach home on a fielder's choice, but a strikeout ended the threat. In the fifth, Leah Karel poked a two-run single, Saxon had an RBI double and Klein smacked an RBI single for the 12-5 Bulldogs lead.
Geneva (1-6, 0-4) scored two runs in the seventh on RBI singles from Isabella Binetti and sophomore Gabby Fanella, but Thayer got a strikeout to end the game.
"We're tracking strikes, and [Reese Berndt] is throwing strikes. It's a matter of getting to our spots against a good hitting team," Geneva coach Annie Plackett said.
Berndt had five strikeouts over seven innings.
"[Batavia hits] the ball really well and they're hitting [to] spots where our defense isn't at. We're just struggling to get there," Plackett continued.