Northwestern runs route on Black River in softball sectional semifinal win
WEST SALEM — The Northwestern High School softball team had its collective hitting shoes on Tuesday as the Huskies drilled Black River 19-3 in five innings in a Division III sectional semifinal game.
NW pounded out 19 hits in the contest to support the pitching of Alysa Troyan in the circle as the junior righty yielded just three earned runs on seven hits, fanning three and walking three.
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“This past week we started her but we had all three of our pitchers ready, and our goal was to go one time through the lineup, we’d change pitchers and it gives them a different look,” Northwestern coach Scott Hershey said. “She doesn’t have a variety of pitches but she was hitting her spots, and she’s got some dip on it, moves it around, and was very effective out there.”
Troyan not only threw well but also helped her own cause, doubling, singling and reaching on an error in her three plate appearances, scoring a trio of runs.
“I have a good defense and it really helps a lot and takes so much pressure off of me,” Troyan noted as the Lady Huskies played errorless ball behind her. “And just being up there and doing what I need to do and having a good defense to back me up with it. And knowing they can hit is really good, too.”
Hershey said he was concerned entering the game as Northwestern scrimmaged Black River earlier in the season and didn’t do much.
“We expected it to be a tough game. They have two senior pitchers (Jordan Bradford, Lilly Stief) and we didn’t do anything against them,” he said. “But this was the best game we’ve played by far, all around.”
Black River coach Jennifer Bradford said it just happened to be one of those days.
“We had some opportunities to make some plays in the field, there was some misplayed balls in the outfield, some throws that didn’t go where they needed to, we just didn’t execute in the field,” she said, although she praised her team for scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to keep battling. “I’m so blessed. In the last inning I said we’re not going to score 19 runs but you dig in and give it your best, and I want to see every person try to get on base.
“And they really pushed hard in that last inning.”
Jennifer Bradford praised her two seniors as Jordan Bradford hit a two-run homer and doubled, and Stief singled twice and plated a run. Mallory Eckert had two singles and Mia Rosales had one.
“Jordan and Lilly have really been the rocks of this team for years,” Jennifer Bradford said. “This year, defensively, it hasn’t been the year we wanted behind them. They still just plug away every day and do what they’re supposed to do.”
NW scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning, adding three in the second, five in the third and six in the fourth frame.
Gabby Cubur socked a three-run homer and double home two more for Northwestern, Taylor Wurst drove in four with a double and single, with Kaylee Cherry (RBI) adding a triple, two singles and scoring four runs. Kelsee Smith (RBI) tripled and doubled, Kara Burgan (RBI) singled twice, Coralyn Hall punched a pair of singles, Camryn Boak hit a two-RBI single, with Lacey Butler and Emily Fricke adding singles for NW.
“I know we have hitters; it’s just been a tough year for us,” Hershey said. “Just getting that mindset of not trying to yank the ball out of the yard all of the time. You saw a lot of two-strike hits tonight that were big. We emphasize getting the good part of the bat on the ball.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Northwestern scores 19 runs in sectional semifinal win past Pirates
