By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MOUNT ANGEL, Ore.– There was no jet lag for the bats of the Dayton softball team on Monday afternoon against Kennedy.
The Pirates, who went 3-1 down in Palm Springs, hit two home runs en route to a 17-0 victory over the Trojans in four innings. Hayden Bell and Charly Upmeyer had the two home runs for Dayton, who improved to 6-1 on the year.
“I think it made us closer as a team,” said Bell of the Spring Break trip. “(Today) was probably the best approach we’ve had at the plate all seasons so far. We came in with good intensity from the start and it helped us get into it faster than we usually do. Normally we get our bats going after the fourth inning. But I think we came in with better intensity and it definitely helped us here.”
Dayton jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning before extending their lead to 10-0 by the time the third inning began.
The Trojans slowed the Pirates’ bats down to a quick one, two, three inning in the third inning. For Kennedy, they’ve had a tough slate to open the season.
Two of their first three games came against the top two teams in 3A. The Trojans opened the season March 16 against defending state champion Scio, then faced Dayton — last year’s 3A runner-up — on Monday. Even in defeat, there were encouraging signs. A run against the Loggers in a 15–1 loss and a quick defensive inning against the Pirates offered glimpses of progress that could pay off as the Trojans move deeper into the season.
“It’s going to help our attitudes to stay up against some tougher teams. When you go up against tough teams, you have to make some tough plays and you have to hold yourself together,” said Kennedy’s Addison Koffler. “As I see it, they are tougher teams and they may be better. But that’s not saying we’re bad. That’s just saying we need to improve on this and this to get to their level.”
Koffler points towards them getting out in front of balls and communication as area’s that she thinks they, the Trojans, could improve upon moving forward into their 2A/1A Special District 2 games with Colton and Country Christian/North Clackamas Christian on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
Dayton, who will open 3A Special District 3 play Tuesday at home against Taft, scored seven runs in the top half of the fourth inning. Bell (Solo) and Upmeyer (Two-Run) hit their Home Runs during that inning as the Pirates closed out the victory during the inning.
Upmeyer pitched a four-inning, one-hitter with eight strikeouts to go with 3RBI’s. Bell and Jayden Mayhew each drove in 2RBI’s in the win.
Koffler struck out four batters in three-and-two-third-innings and Meghan Cuff had the lone hit for Kennedy,.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
