BSHS Softball Team beats Clear Spring

Samantha Zahnow struck out 10 Clear Spring batters to pick up her third win of the year, as the Berkeley Spring High School softball team defeated the Blazers 8-6, on Tuesday, April 10 in Clear Spring, Md. Zahnow had plenty of help from the Indian offense. The Tribe banged out 11 hits, four for extra bases and scored in four of seven innings, on their way to the two-run victory.

Berkeley Springs is finding out that there are no cupcakes on the schedule and that they need to be prepared, mentally and physically, for each and every game.

"Clear Spring is definitely improved from last year," said Berkeley Springs coach Greg Brown. "We obviously aren't good enough to count any game as a win before we play it, but Clear Spring was definitely more competitive than I expected. We didn't get the lead until the third inning and Clear Spring never gave up."

Berkeley Springs, trailing 3-1, scored four runs in the third, two more in the fourth, once in the fifth and then snuffed out a Clear Spring rally in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

"Clear Spring made a game of it by scoring twice in the seventh," said Brown. "They had the tying run on first when we got the final out on a force at third. It was a nice play by Ashley Hovermale and Kayla Hill for the final out. Their experience and communication really helped us end the game."

Zahnow, who went the distance, allowing six runs on eight hits, striking out 10 and walking three, helped her own cause with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and a RBI. She had plenty of help too, as Sarah Risinger and Amanda Waltman had three hits each. Risinger and Watman each scored twice with Waltman picking up two RBI. Ashley Hovermale had two hits and a run scored.

"Sarah Risinger has been hitting the ball very hard the last couple of games; she's missed a home run by a couple of feet a few times," said Brown. "I hope she doesn't hit one over, because one home run has ruined a lot of good hitters. Amanda (Waltman) stayed hot and Ashley (Hovermale) continues to raise her batting average with two hits. Sam (Zahnow) had a nice game on the mound, but lost a little control late because of the high pitch count. It was a good win."

A day earlier the Indians dropped a road double header to Clear Spring. Hedgesville dominated the first game 10-0 in five innings, before pulling out a hard fought 7-5 win in the nightcap.

"In the first game we were just simply overmatched," Brown said. "Jess Shirley (Hedgesville's starting pitcher) did a nice job of keeping our hitters off balance and guessing. When Sam (Zahnow) missed her mark and got the ball up in the zone, she paid for it."

Hedgesville quickly jumped on Berkeley Springs, scoring three runs in their half of the first to take a 3-0 lead. They scored one more run in the third and six times in the fourth, for the 10-0 victory.

"Hedgesville is a very good offensive team and we knew they were all going to make contact, we just had to make plays and we didn't," said Brown. "Eleven hits, three walks and three errors, that's 17 base runners in four innings. You're obviously not going to beat anyone like that."

Hovermale had the only two hits for Berkeley Springs.

Though the Lady Indians were disappointed with the outcome of game one, they bounced back in the second game and gave the Eagles all they wanted, before losing 7-5.

Berkeley Springs scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead, before the Eagles scored single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game at 2-2. Katie Kesecker, who had held Hedgesville in check through the first six innings, was not able to shut the door in the seventh inning, as the Eagles erupted for five runs and a 7-2 lead. Berkeley Springs didn't fold their tent, however, scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run on first, before the game ended.

"I think our girls showed a

lot of guts and spirit to come back out against the best team

in the area, after just being