Virtually every positive adjective and catchy phrase has been used this spring to describe the Silverdale softball team as they have built one of the best teams anywhere around in the first two months of the season.
Nobody wants to think about the season coming to a close, but it’s just around the corner as the Spring Fling will begin two weeks from Tuesday and will come to a close on Thursday, May 23.
In the meantime, the winning just continues for the Lady Seahawks and they’re doing so in impressive fashion.
Monday’s latest victim was the Boyd Buchanan Lady Buccaneers, who have a pretty good team of their own, but aren’t on the same page with the Lady Seahawks. Action came at Silverdale in the Division II-A East Region
Silverdale’s Ella Cunningham, who had pitched a perfect game and a no-hitter in her first two games against the Lady Bucs this year, proved she was human, but was impressive nonetheless as she helped her team improve to 44-3 overall with their 31st straight win. All the Michigan State commit did was go the distance again as she allowed one run on two hits while walking three and striking out 10.
Cai Cai Butler led off the game for the Lady Bucs with a double to center before stealing third and scoring on a groundout by Brooke Watson.
That lead didn’t last long as Silverdale came right back to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Two more in the third increased the lead to 4-1, but was an eight-run fourth that was the ultimate back breaker.
Silverdale coach Jackie Freeland is really blessed to have such talent at virually every position and players who are all capable of hitting the long ball.
She knows that a great season will be ending soon and she simply doesn’t want to even think about that.
“We gave up a run in the first, but that’s all they got and we were able to answer immediately,” Freeland said while standing on the steps of the Silverdale dugout following the game.
“I think that first run just made Ella pitch better, but she seems to do well under pressure. Boyd is certainly a big rival for us and always a big game, but I’m just glad that it isn’t always the same player making the headlines. We have a solid team and they all contribute,” she added, knowing that eight of the nine players in her starting lineup all had at least one hit.
Boyd Buchanan coach Tom Watson was just happy that his team got a bit more production at the plate in this latest game than the first two.
“Well, we got the no-hitter and the shutout out of the way early, but Silverdale is just so good,” he began.
“They had that one huge inning and there really wasn’t anything we could do, but Ella Cunningham is really a great player. Our goal at this point is to finish second in this tournament and we have to win our first game tomorrow to have that chance,” he added.
Knoxville Grace defeated Lakeway Christian by a 5-3 final in Monday’s first game and will face Boyd Buchanan in Tuesday’s first game at 5 with the winner facing Silverdale at 7. The if-necessary game would be played on Wednesday if the Lady Seahawks lose.
The Lady Seahawks set team records a year ago with all the home runs they hit. They haven’t hit quite as many this time around, but they still hit three in Monday’s win.
Cunningham leads the team with 15 circuit clouts and her line-drive two-run blast in the third increased Silverdale’s lead to 4-1.
Emry Masterson got things started for the Lady Seahawks in the first inning when she got hit by a pitch. Jaliyah Whitaker walked to put two runners on before Kennedy Stinson popped to the pitcher for the first out. Cunningham got hit with another pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for a two-run double by sophomore Braylee Raby.
Masterson got the fourth-inning rally started with an RBI-double and was on base when Whitaker hit a three-run homer to center.
Stinson popped to third for the second out before Cunningham walked and Raby singled. Gabbie Hensley then followed with another three-run homer over the fence in left-center. Masterson then got her second hit of the inning – a single – to drive in the final run.
Cunningham did her usual outstanding job in the circle as she allowed the one run on two hits while striking out 10 and walking three.
She walked Kinley Ervin to lead off the third, Ella Meade to lead off the fourth and Ali Johnson to lead off the fifth, but escaped further trouble each time.
Mercedes Smith reached on a bunt single in the fifth, but the game ended when Butler grounded to Amare Starling at first.
Avery Danz, Masterson and Raby all had two hits for Silverdale with Hensley and Whitaker both driving in three runs. Masterson, Cunningham and Raby all had two RBIs.
Stinson, the only other senior on the team besides Cunningham, was hitless in three trips, although she did reach on a fielder’s choice in the third and scored ahead of Cunningham’s homer. Without question, she's one of the best hitters on the team and just behind Cunningham with 14 home runs.
Boyd Buchanan is now 23-14 following Monday’s loss.
BOYD BUCHANAN 100 00 – 1 2 1
SILVERDALE 202 8x – 12 11 0
Watson, Ervin (4), Murley (4) and Johnson; Cunningham and Hensley.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)