GAME SUMMARIES
Game #1 vs. Hershey LOSS 11-14
This game came about in a strange way...cancelled from the day before, then at the last minute we were told we would be playing at Hershey instead of home because our field was too wet to play on. So, we travelled to Hershey to be the home team for this game.
Overall, I was very pleased with the team, considering the poor start to the practices due to weather and other unfortunate factors. The game was a true game, we led for the majority of the game, one time even rallied back from a 6 run deficit to regain the lead. Captain Kristen Kennedy was our starting pitcher and did a great job. Dawn Shenk came in to finish the game. Our defense looked shaky at times, with mostly bad throws costing the win in this game. Weather played a small factor, considering it was very cold. Overall, I was happy with the game and was pleased to finally get the season started.
*important things from the game....Liz was brutal in trying to take out the backstop...
*Lindsey was just as brutal with her "slam into the runner while not tagging the runner but she's called out anyway play"
*SALLY looked beautiful!! She's one to be wary of!!
NOTEABLE QUOTES
"Jill bruised my uterus"-Lindsey
"ok, yeah, way to go Sally. Good job!"-Heather
Game #2 vs. CD East LOSS 11-21
One bad inning cost the win in this game. We got off to a good start, holding the lead in the first innings of the game. Kennedy Threw the first 2 innings, then Dawn came in and threw the remaining innings. I've got to say we have some depth in our pitchers. Desiree was in the bullpen, ready to throw the last inning. Sad to say, they 10-runned us before she had the chance.Somewhere something went terribly wrong, and our fielding looked like a really really bad town team. That's not to say our team ever gave up...they rallied back in the last innings but it was too late. We suffered 2 injuries at home plate, Jen and Brandy both injured legs because homeplate was so slippery. my question is this: if homeplate was that dangerously slippery, then why did Fraker practically STICK to it when she attempted to slide headfirst into it?
Game #3 vs. Carlisle WIN 7-6
This was the day for the JV team. I felt it all day, and I was so excited to see our team come from behind to take a win in extra innings! This goes to show that the JV team is for real. Never giving up, making the plays and keeping heads in the game is what put our team over the top. I was so impressed with the way everyone came together, stuck together and played the mental game. this game was just as good as the doubleheader against Carlisle last season. The intensity alone was amazing. In the 8th inning Jen Geyer's double got things going in our direction. she then advanced to 3rd. With one out, Dawn Shenk was at the plate, ready to attempt to pull off a suicide squeeze play. Carlisle instead intentionally walked her and a bad throw to the pitcher saw Jen on her way stealing home and winning the game. As she crossed the plate, 17 West Perry JV Softball players exploded out of the dugout and mobbed poor Jen!! The first victory is always great, but to do it at our first home game, coming from behind in extra innings makes it that much better. This game was a great confidence builder for our team and the momentum should continue from this point on. I for one am looking forward to seeing what else this JV team can pull off this season!!,POLE DANCING PICS!!!
Game #4 vs. Waynesboro LOSS
This game was cold, far away and I was glad to see it end. Kennedy was throwing a good game on the mound, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to hit back-to-back homeruns. Not that we didn't answer back, Renee Fraker A.K.A. "the louse" hit her own 2 run homerun! The day is never a loss when I can brag that one of the JV players hit a homerun! Thankfully we will never have to take that 2 hour bus ride to Waynesboro again..,PICTURES
Game #5 vs. Chambersburg LOSS 15-0
I expected to be out-classed in the contest, but what i didn't count on was the fact that Chambersburg's pitching was illegal for the first 2 innings. Like it or not, the first two innings were played under protest...I hate when "issues" get in the way of the game but I'll be damned if a school that thinks they are so great should be able to bend the rules against any team, much less ours.
Defensively, our team looked pretty tight, with a few minor mistakes here and there. Desiree Smith made her pitching debut in this game. My hope was that they wouldn't be able the handle her slower, more deliberate technique. Kennedy came in and finished the game. Our offense made good contact with chambersburg's high speed pitching, but most times it was hit directly to a fielder. I was most pleased to see that we were hitting the ball OUT OF THE INFIELD...most were shallow outfield hits that would have dropped if we had been playing anyone BUT Chambersburg. The good thing about playing a school like Chambersburg is that we see how the game is to be played, and that putting up a good fight only makes us stronger for the next team we face.
Game #6 vs. Big Spring LOSS 9-5
This is the team that's been a thorn in my side since 2000. Everytime Big Spring playes us, they think its a big joke and that they can walk all over our program. Tonight they found out its not going to be that way anymore. We played them hard, play-for play, out-for out. When the point came and we were leading, their coach got scared and pulled in the pitcher he was "saving for a good team". We had them against the ropes and there was a very good possibility that they would not win. Kennedy pitched yet another great game, and Dani had some great plays in left field. Talk about hustle!! Brandy and Amanda Wilson filled the role as DH in this game, both reaching base...
Dawn came in and finished the game on the mound. We have a solid pitching staff in Dawn, Kennedy, Desiree and several upcoming pitchers, Lindsey, Amanda Wilson, Nicole Reed, and possibly Amanda Bushey. Tonight's game showed that our program is definitely on the way back...even though the team did not win, it makes me feel so much better when the umpires tell me after the game that" the team has improved so much over the last few seasons, you have a great group of kids..." I've known it all along, now its good to see outsiders realize it too. LOOK OUT, Because WEST PERRY SOFTBALL
IS COMING BACK IN A BIG WAY!!!
* yeah i would have left them jump in the pool after the game, i keep my word!....probably would have lost the job....but i keep my word!
Game #7 vs. Gettsyburg Loss 4-3 *extra innings
Here is a great example of how much West Perry's softball has improved...the second extra-inning game of the season, unfortunately we didn't get the win. Coach Lucas and I had pumped up the team, we had an excellent practice the night before, and Dawn threw an exceptional 8 inning game tonight. Our team never said die, this was one of those games that we were in it all the way. Every pitch, every hit, you could see the anticipation in everyone's eyes. To be focused, and to hear a sigh of relief coming from the dugout everytime we got an out or prevented a run was such a rush. I LOVE days like this!
Batting practice from the practice the day before proved to be beneficial in that we had Lindsey and Kendra belt out triples, and Abbey slugged a double!
Our defense is coming back together, only allowing 13 runs in the past 15 innings! We had a few miscues in the field, some mental errors and costly mistakes, but its nothing that this team can't correct and learn from!
QUOTE OF THE GAME and quite possibly the nicest thing I've ever heard coming out of Drapers's mouth... "You played a very good game!" Draper doesn't seem to give many compliments....quite possibly the first one I've ever heard her give!
*Once again, the umpire congratulated our team and said we have a good and up-and-coming future!! I love it when others notice how much this team has worked to be the turning point of the entire West Perry Softball program.
Game #8 vs. Carlisle WIN 16-6
Here was a GAME. For the first time this season, we came out of the bus acting like winners. Walked in, hit the ball like crazy, scored over half of the game's runs on 2-out rallies and pretty much dominated the game from the words"play ball".
Defense looked great, all that throwing and catching practice paid off!! The hits fell when we needed them to, with Abbey and Kendra pounding doubles and Lindsey hit her second triple of the season. Liz Enck stepped in a a runner for the pitcher(Dawn) and did a great job on the basepaths!! Everyone who got on base this game scored at least once!! I love days when the offense and defense are both "on"!!!
NEXT GAME...Wed May 1, Away VS.Chambersburg
