It was a rollercoaster day for the Streetsboro Rockets’ softball team as they competed in a tri-duel against Hudson and Warren Howland. Streetsboro stormed back from an early deficit to top the Explorers 10-7 but did not fare as well against the Tigers, losing 13-0 in five innings to settle for a split last Saturday at Veterans Stadium.
“Fortunately, the team came back after spotting Hudson four unearned runs in the first inning and it was good to come back and win that game because we went up against a buzzsaw in that second game against Howland,” said Coach LeRoy Moore.
In spite of the early success that the Rockets (6-3, 3-1) have enjoyed this season, one of their biggest weaknesses has been the same as last season as they continue to get off to slow starts.
On Saturday, it was the same story as Streetsboro fell behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning as the Explorers jumped aheadon five hits and two walks. The Rockets responded with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning but needed to chip away at Hudson’s lead throughout the game.
After the Explorers increased their lead to 7-4 in the fourth inning, Streetsboro scored six unanswered runs including a five-run sixth inning.
In the sixth frame, the Rockets drove the ball by recording four doubles, including RBI-doubles by sophomore catcher Olivia DeToro, freshman shortstop Ella Simpson, senior first baseman Hailey Miller, and a double from sophomore Amy Rein.
The first three out four girls had doubles, so they were crushing and connecting with the ball at that point and then we had another girl get on with an error,” noted the second-year coach. “Two other girls got on with errors then and we kind of flipped the order around.”
According to Moore, as strong as the Rockets’ start to the season has been, the comeback victory against Hudson marked the second consecutive game in which the Rockets enjoyed an offensive eruption, scoring 23 runs in two games after tweaking their batting order.
“I think it is finding out where some of the girls are more comfortable in the line-up to where they had been,” he added. “Again as some of these players are getting more reps, we are starting to see where they are able to execute more whether it is putting a sacrifice bunt down to move one runner or move a couple of runners. It seems like they are becoming more comfortable at the plate.”
The Rockets’ explosive sixth inning contributed to the 15 hits they recorded in the game.
After the Explorers scored seven runs in the first four innings, senior right-hander Sydney Burfield silenced Hudson’s offense by coming on to hurl three innings of scoreless relief while surrendering only three hits and striking out two batters.
In addition to seeing instant success from rearranging the lineup, Moore also said that the Rockets continue to benefit from their youth movement, as six of their starting nine are underclassmen, building off of one of Streetsboro’s most successful seasons in recent memory last year.
Moore added that another one of Streetsboro’s biggest strengths has been the camaraderie between the players, as the improved chemistry has also helped fuel the Rockets’ quick start to the season.
“The main thing that I am seeing is that between all of those players and underclassmen is the chemistry, so they are all cheering for one another and having fun again,” Moore noted.
As thrilling as the comeback victory against Hudson was, the Rockets experienced a tougher fate against Howland, as the Tigers were sparked by a five-run first inning.
The Tigers displayed serious power by slugging three home runs in the game and never relinquished control en route to triggering the mercy rule after five frames when the lead had increased to 13 runs.
Moore acknowledged that the game against Howland marked one of the first contests this year in which the Rockets played an opponent that was in a different tier.
“It is good to see those wins and against the real top programs, with us being young, it really shows that okay our work is not done and we have to work even harder to get to that next level, but it is good to see that we are moving in that direction,” he added.
After a road game against Metro Athletic Conference foe Field on Tuesday and a home contest against Bedford on Thursday, Streetsboro will host MAC rival Ravenna on Friday at 2 p.m. then hit the road again and take on Edgewood for a double-header on Saturday in Ashtabula at noon.
