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By Bill Rudickbrudick55@gmail.com
OXFORD >> Trailing by a pair of runs headed into the fourth, the Oxford High School softball team’s bats suddenly sprung to life. The Hornets (4-1 overall, 3-0 Ches-Mont American) sent 15 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring 10 runs in the process, and went on to top Henderson (1-8, 1-5 Ches-Mont National) by a score of 19-7 in a game shortened to five innings under the Mercy Rule.
“This was a nice team win,” said Oxford coach Bob Van Zyl. “Everybody hit, up and down the line-up, we played good defense, and Ericka (Ortega) settled in and pitched really well.”
Henderson jumped out to an early lead, plating a run in the first inning on an RBI double from Josie Carfagno, who finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBIs. The Warriors added another pair in the second, and four more in the third to go up 7-5 after three innings of play.
“We hit the ball well,” said Henderson coach Joel Cummings. “But we’re just making too many small errors, and getting beat by little bloopers between the outfield and infield. We’re hitting the ball well every game, but just can’t seem to match up run for run.”
The Warriors scratched out 10 hits in the game, led by Carfagno’s three doubles, and a multi-hit game from Avery Reitnour (2-for-3), and doubles from Hailey Bentz and Gabrielle Nanni.
Prior to the big fourth inning, the Hornets notched three runs in the first, highlighted by a double from Natalia Donorfrio (4-for-4, double, four runs scored and four RBIs), and RBI singles from Ashley Flynn and Gracie Allen (2-for-3, run, three RBIs). Oxford tacked on another pair in the second on singles from Donofrio and Alexis Keenan, along with a run from Ashley Flynn, who had reached when she was hit by pitch then scored on an errant throw.
The fourth inning found the Hornets taking advantage of wildness from Henderson pitching, as Oxford walked five times in the inning, four of which drove in runs. Molly Friel had two hits in the inning, a single, and an RBI double, setting up a milestone in her next at bat.
“I just love this team,” said Friel. “I was a little worried about how we’d be after the seniors we lost last year, but this team is so much fun. Once we start to hit, we get motivated and we all hit. I’m really excited to see how far we can go this year.”
With bases loaded in the fifth, Friel came up to the plate, an stroked her second double in as many at bats to knock in two runs. The two-bagger marked the 100th hit of Friel’s career.
“It feels really good to finally get to 100,” said Friel. “It takes some pressure off. It feels especially good after I started the game 0 for 2. To come back and get three straight hits, especially in what it did for the team, feels really great.”
Her coach couldn’t have been more proud of his third baseman.
“I’m not sure people really appreciate how hard it is to get to 100 hits in high school. “said Van Zyl. “It’s a testament to the kind or person Molly is and how hard she works.”
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