LINDEN — North Montgomery’s softball team honored their three seniors with a 13-0 win over county and conference rival Crawfordsville on Tuesday.
The Chargers scored in all four trips to the plate and played error-free softball in the win that moves them to 6-12 overall and 3-7 in the Monon Athletic Conference.
The Athenians, on the heels of a solid 12-5 road win over Lafayette Central Catholic on Monday, never found an offensive spark as they fall to 3-18 and 0-11 in the league.
The three seniors, Ella McManomy, Hope Delp and Erica Newkirk, also had a hand with the underclassmen in making Senior Night special.
McManomy walked twice and scored both times, and was the anchor behind the plate, returning to action after missed time due to injury.
Delp reached base, scored once and drove in a run while playing first base.
Newkirk, who has also missed time this season due to injury, hit her first double of the season as part of a four-run fourth inning, and scored her first run of the season.
“There was a lot of emotion tonight,” Chargers coach Rob Earley said. “We had a good bounce-back after a let-down Monday. The girls wanted to send the seniors out the right way, and they did. We had the error-free game defensively and all the bats produced.”
North got a run in the first, and four each in the other three at-bats. The bottom of the order was stellar, as Sophie Long and Bailey Nichols, hitting in the No. 7 and 8 spots, each reached base three times and scored three times. Long had a triple and double, while Nichols had a double.
The top of the order fared well also, as leadoff hitter Jayla Birge got on base all four trips to the plate, stole two bases and scored twice. No. 2 hitter Paisley Gillan reached base three times, had a three-RBI triple, and scored once. Sophie Welshimer, who leads the Chargers in many offensive categories, had three hits and drove in two runs.
“Ella and Hope have been four-year starters,” Early said. “It was good to get Ella back behind the plate. She is strong and has good speed. Hope is as refreshing a player as any coach could ask for. She is great, her parents are great, her two siblings are great. Erica is such a trooper, coming back from her injury. She is a vocal leader and just a key part of the team.”
Early and fans were also quick to point out that McManomy is also a versatile athlete, having won the 100 and 400 meter dashes at the recent Monon Conference Track Meet.
Kendra McClamroch pitched the five innings for North and picked up the win, allowing only two hits. The sophomore hurler didn’t walk a batter while striking out seven. She threw 40 strikes in 61 pitches thrown.
“It was refreshing tonight,” Earley said. “We put the ball in play and use our speed. The bottom of the order played well, which is such a confidence-booster. A win like tonight helps in that confidence, which is always so contagious, and important as the season draws down.”
Crawfordsville coach Mackenzi Landrum was disappointed in the loss, but was positive after the win at CC Monday.
“We started a little shaky,” she said, “but we made a lot of good adjustments during the game, especially at the plate. Molly (Pierce) had a really good game on the mound. She only walked one. We just weren’t very sharp or focused tonight. We need to bring those little things Thursday and be ready to go.”
Tori Truax and Christina Susdorf got the two Athenians hits.
The two rivals square off at Crawfordsville on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
