The wave motion of a simulated bat swing was made from the third base coaching box.
Crawfordsville softball coach Mackenzi Landrum never stopped instructing her players during Wednesday’s 23-6 five-inning, season-opening loss to West Lafayette at the Athenian Complex on a chilly, blustery evening.
Even with the score Landrum saw positives from her young team.
“We hung in there,” Landrum said. “There wasn’t a time where we had an error and it snowballed. We showed how tough we can be and how hard we want to work and accomplish.”
Landrum added when eight of the 14 varsity spots are freshmen, it is important to use everything as a learning opportunity.
“The biggest thing is confidence. We want them to be comfortable in the positions we put them. Our returners have really stepped up and paved the way.”
The Red Devils (1-0) used a 12-run third inning to break open a relatively competitive contest. CHS (0-1) only trailed 6-2 before that, four of those on a Bree Johnson grand slam in the second.
The hosts matched the visitors in the opening inning. West Lafayette plated a pair of runs in the top on a three-base error to leadoff hitter and starting pitcher Dani Rawles. She would score on a ground out. Clean up hitter Kerrigan Gooden smacked her first varsity home run, part of a 5-for-5 night at the plate, for a 2-0 advantage.
Olivia Hedrick led off the home half with a double and went to third base on a wild pitch. Second hitting Molly Pierce grounded to short and the throw home was late. Pierce later scored after Christina Susdorf reached on an error and Sabella Moore singled to tie the game 2-2.
The Athenians tallied one in the third on three walks and a Delaney Spencer ground out. Susdorf had a RBI single and Spencer a two-run double for three more in the fifth. Pitch selection was important in both of those frames.
“That’s something we’ve stressed since October. We want to be smart at the plate, find the pitch we can drive and execute when we get on base. It’s been fun to see them be picky at the plate.”
The Red Devils outhit CHS 19-6. The home team committed three errors and West Lafayette two.
Freshman Angeli Martinez pitched the first two-plus innings before relieved by Pierce. Rawles tossed four innings for the win.
West Lafayette, coming off its most successful season in recent history, played without all-state candidate Adrianne Tolen, sophomore sensation Izzy Ascarelli and junior Ellie Wilcoxson. They did not dress for the opener due to not having enough practices in.
The Athenians also had 2023 as its best season in a while and looked to have a great start to 2024. CHS is right back on the diamond Thursday at Class 1A No. 10 Riverton Parke for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch.
“I’m excited. The girls are excited. We’ve put in all the work. Now it’s time to let them play.”
