Central’s offense erupts in softball win over Hampshire

Updated: April 27, 2011 11:01AM

Whether it was the extra batting lessons she’s been taking on the side or just a matter of necessity, Burlington Central’s Emily Bell proved too good Monday to hit for the cycle against rival Hampshire.

Instead, needing a single in her last at-bat for the cycle, Bell doubled home two runs in the fifth inning to go 4-for-4 with five RBI and led the Rockets’ assault at the plate in a 17-3 Big Northern East victory shortened to five by the mercy rule.

“Actually, I’ve been working hard with hitting lessons and my first at-bat wasn’t too good, so I really just thought about what I was doing and came back with a better approach my last few times at bat,” Bell said.

The first at-bat, which Bell said “wasn’t too good,” was a second-inning triple to right that probably should have been caught, and the first of Central’s 15 hits, a total that included 10 for extra bases.

Bell smashed a two-run home run over the left-field fence in the four-run fourth, and Sarah Kisch lined a two-run homer in the six-run fifth which gave every player in the Rockets’ starting lineup a hit.

“We’ve got some attitudes at the plate,” Central coach Cray Allen said.

The Rockets trailed 2-0 after an inning but Bekah Harnish’s three-run triple off losing pitcher Jennifer Hurst made it 4-2, then Haley Albamonte, Bell, and Brooke Gaylord put together three straight doubles in the three-run third. After Bell’s fifth homer of the year keyed a four-run fourth, the Rockets exploded with Kisch’s shot and Bell’s two-run double in the fifth.

“Our pitching hasn’t been as strong as it’s been in the past,” Bell said. “We have young team, young defense. So we really win our games by our offense because we have to pick it up for lack of defense.”

Besides Bell’s hot day, winning pitcher Rebecca Roscher went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, and Harnisch was 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Hampshire’s Hurst fell to 2-7 on the year in her first effort in a week after turning her ankle.

“She battled through,” Hampshire coach Ken Bram said of the injury. “She didn’t have her full velocity. But I tell you what, this is the best hitting team we’ve seen. Every swing has been picture perfect, fundamentals to a tee.

“Yeah, they can hit the ball.”

Hampshire (3-12, 1-3) started off hitting well against Central’s Roscher (5-2), with Christina Potempa, Becca Vodraska and Tiffany Bentley singling in the two-run first and Bentley driving in a run. But that was it until Vodraska’s RBI single in the fifth. By then Roschel had left the game without walking a batter. She gave up four hits in four innings.

“Rebecca does everything that we ask of her,” Allen said. “She’s kind of like the Lauren King girl. Both of them, they do everything we ask of them. They’re not going to be spectacular, fancy players. They’re not going to wow you, but they’re going to get the job done.”

Central (9-8, 3-1) came away encouraged after the rout and nearly beating Elgin Slugfest champion Chatham-Glenwood Saturday (8-6 loss). The hitting display was so impressive that it might have been worse if not for spectacular fielding plays by Hampshire’s Vodraska in center and Bentley at short, and catcher Grace Jakubowski throwing out two runners stealing.

“You just never know what could kick-start your team into having a special season,” Allen said. “It’s just: when is it going to happen?

“And I’m excited and anxious to see when it is going to happen. As long as it happens right before regionals, I’m OK with it.”

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