by Bud Hart The Solanco Mules put their shoulders to the plow and buried their opponents last week. The varsity softball team defeated Lebanon 9-3, shut out Manheim Township 13-0 in five innings, and humbled Elizabethtown 11-0 in five innings. This was the same Bear team that rallied for an 8-7 win in the seventh inning on the Mule pasture in an earlier contest.
On Monday, May 1, Solanco saw Hanna Phillips, who was physically not feeling her best, strike out 12, and walk one while limiting the Cedars to three hits as the Mules recorded a 9-3 win. Kayla May and Albrea Doss led the offense both going two for four. “We scratched out eight hits, worked for a couple of walks and took advantage of a few errors to score nine runs,” said Coach Brett Miller. “We yielded some runs to them on some defensive lapses, but got the needed and expected results.” In the Manheim Township game, played on Tuesday, May 2, Phillips shut out the Blue Streaks as the Mules earned a 13-0 five inning win. “Hanna had good velocity and improved control scattering four hits with six strikeouts,” said Miller. “It made for a productive outing.” Abby Heidelbaugh led off with a double and scored on Kara McClune’s RBI single. Randi Rambo followed with a single up the middle and Liz Mowrer drove in McClune with an RBI single. Ally McDowell plated Rambo and Mowrer with a base hit making the score 4-0 Solanco. In the second inning, Kate Sheaffer advanced to second on an error and scored on Heidelbaugh’s double. Heidelbaugh scored on McClune’s second hit of the day and McClune scored on Rambo’s second hit, an RBI double. Mowrer ends the drama with a two-run blast over the left field fence plating herself and Rambo to give the Mules a 9-0 lead. Sheaffer singled and stole second in the third inning. Heidelbaugh singled and both scored on a fielder’s choice and error. The score was now 11-0 Mules. In the fifth inning, May led off with a single, but was erased on a McDowell fielder’s choice. McDowell advanced on a Lindsey Lane single and scored on an Alyssa Henretty base hit, 12-0. Heidelbaugh led off the fifth inning with her fourth consecutive base hit with McClune and Rambo also following with base hits. Mowrer singled home Heidelbaugh and the games ended with the Mules winning 13-0. “We did what we were looking to do, score runs early to shorten the game thereby reducing Hanna’s pitch count,” said Miller. “It was a focused team effort at the plate coupled with defensive intensity. It makes us a challenging team.” Miller said that although his team doesn’t get a hit every time they step to the plate, everyone up and down the lineup is having quality productive at bats. Solanco traveled to Elizabethtown on Wednesday, May, 3, and ended early any doubts as to who came to play. “Hanna was ready and came up big,” said Miller. “E-town has been scoring runs all year, but she had dominating velocity with great ball movement.” Phillips struck out nine to control the Bears. With one out in the first inning, McClune reached base on an error and Rambo followed with a single up the middle. Mowrer singled in McClune, but on the overthrow to the plate Rambo scored and Mowrer reached third. May then scored Mowrer on a sac fly. With the score 3-0 Mules, Scheaffer singled with two outs and stole second. Heidelbaugh drove in Scheaffer with a base hit and scored on McClune’s base hit. Rambo singled, advancing McClune to third. Mowrer then delivered a towering blast to right center field scoring McClune and Rambo. All the Mule damage occurring with two outs, ending the inning with the Mules ahead 7-0. In the fourth, Henretty led off with a walk. Sheaffer singled, but Henretty was erased in an attempt to advance to third. Sheaffer reached second and moved to third on a Heidelbaugh single. She then scored on a McClune’s sac fly. Solanco closed out the scoring in the fifth when May reached base on a fielder’s choice. McDowell lined a shot to left center for a double advancing May to third. Lane followed with a double plating May and a fast running McDowell to make the score 10-0 Mules. Scheaffer drove in Andrea Doss, running for Lane, with a RBI single to end the Mule scoring. “It was a big win,” said Miller. “We came to play today. Everyone. It’s always extra special with E-Town especially on their field. It takes a team to win so it is always a good sign to have hitting, fielding and pitching all working together. Made for a good Solanco night in E-town.” With the win the Mules earned an L-L League playoff spot. “But we’re looking for the Section title and need one more win out of our last two games with Ephrata and CV,” said Miller. Comments are closed.
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