The Boiling Springs softball team opened their 2021 season in impressive fashion as they defeated their former region foe Byrnes 14-0 on Monday night as each batter in the lineup either reached base or accounted for a run being scored.
"It's been a long time since we got a win over those guys and we came into the game knowing the level of competition we were facing but we came out hitting the ball strong," said Bulldogs head coach Randy Piazza. "They are a great program but we've been behind the eight ball with them the last few years and to finally get one against them we're really excited about that." Boiling Springs pitcher Olivia Hall and the Bulldogs defense set the tone early as they allowed only one hit outside the infield over the first three innings with the only hit being to left field and that hit almost saw the baserunner thrown out at second on a great throw from leftfielder Samy Quintero. While the Bulldogs were keeping the Rebels off the bases on defense, they were busy getting on the bases when it was their turn on offense. In the bottom half of the first inning shortstop AD Raines started the Bulldogs bats with an infield single and was followed with back to back singles from Hall and catcher Ragan Bristol, with Raines giving Boiling Springs a 1-0 lead on the Bristol single. After the three straight hits by the Bulldogs, first baseman Bri Stanley worked a walk to load the bases. Centerfielder Jaycee Osment followed Stanley with a sharp hit to left field that was snagged by a diving Rebels player for an out but also allowed Hall to score and put the Bulldogs lead at 2-0. With two outs in the inning and leading 2-0 with two runners on the Bulldogs designated hitter Sayde Parris hit a single to right centerfield scoring two more runners and giving Boiling Springs a 4-0 lead going into the second inning. In the bottom of the second inning the Bulldogs got back to work offensively as right fielder Hailey Owens reached base after being hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice but by Raines. Hall followed Raines by reaching base on a walk before Bristol hit a double down the left field line bringing home Owens to put the Bulldogs lead at 5-0. Bri Stanley followed Bristol with a single of her own bringing home two more runners and putting the Bulldogs ahead 7-0 after two innings of play. After seeing the top half of the third inning end off a ground ball to second and back-to-back strikeouts from Hall, the Bulldogs added to their lead in the bottom half of the inning. The inning got started with a double by Sayde Parris who later came home to score on an infield single by Raines to put the Bulldogs ahead 8-0. Boiling Springs extended their lead to 10-0 on the very next at-bat when Olivia Hall hit a two run homer over the left field wall to build on the Bulldogs lead. The homerun just added to an already impressive game that Hall was having from the pitching circle. "On the mound I got off to a rough start but I had a great defense behind me that was working with me along with a great catcher who knew what I was wanting to accomplish and helped me out a lot," said Hall. "At the plate I just went up there looking for my pitch and trying to move my runners to get them in scoring position." In the bottom of the fourth inning the Bulldogs added four more runs all with two outs in the inning that started on a Kate Philbeck walk. Parris followed with her third hit of the game, a single to centerfield, before Philbeck came around to score on a single to left field by Samy Quinterro. With Parris and Quinterro on base at first and second, Hailey Owen got her first hit of the game and made it a memorable one with a deep homerun to right field to push the Boiling Springs lead to 14-0. "One thing we've been successful at throughout the preseason has been getting our leadoff runner on and we did another good job of that tonight," said Piazza. "Sometimes you only get three to four batters that step up but tonight we got a few more. Sayde Parris, our seventh grader, for example came in and got two big hits right off the bat for us tonight. If you're going to win our region and win in the playoffs you have to have everyone in your lineup hitting and producing." In the top half of the fifth inning Byrnes was able to get two runners on with no outs but a strikeout by Hall followed by two strong plays by Kate Philbeck at third base brought the inning and game to an end. Philbeck played a strong game at third base on Monday as she also got an impressive double play in the fourth inning that saw her make a great stab along the baseline before stepping on third base and firing on to first base to end the Rebels half of the inning. For Hall and the other seniors on the Bulldogs team picking up the win over Byrnes meant a lot to them as they have been close in recent years but could never come away with the win. "It feels great to get the win because it's been a long time coming," said Hall. "At the end of the day though it's just another game and we'll move on to the next game with the same energy and the same mindset." Boiling Springs will next take the field on Wednesday when they open region play in a home game against Gaffney before taking part in the Lady Rebel Invitational at the Middle Tyger River park this weekend. Comments are closed.
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