Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School third baseman Sarah Petry fields a bunt as the Hawks defeated Green Bay Preble, 4-1, Friday afternoon at Memorial Park.
Once the Hawks were able to consistently put the ball in play, they were able to score runs.
It’s a philosophy head coach Kevin Isaacson insists on with speed throughout the top of the lineup.
Trailing in the fifth inning, Shawano used a four-run burst to jump ahead of Green Bay Preble for a season-opening 4-1 victory Friday afternoon at Memorial Park.
“Philosophically, put the ball on the ground, use our wheels, and make them play defense,” Isaacson said of what went right that inning.
The Hawks were able to pepper the Preble infield with relief pitcher Rachel Piontek in the circle, as Julia Haarth and Alli Raddant started off the inning with back-to-back singles.
Sophomore Brianna Zook then hit a fielder’s choice, which was misplayed, loading the bases for the Hawks. Designated hitter Julia Beck then scorched a hit between the leg’s of Preble’s second baseman, scoring Haarth and Raddant.
Zook then scored on an errant throw by the Hornets, before Sarah Petry concluded the scoring with a fielder’s choice that tallied right fielder Lauren Roloff, who was running the bases for Beck.
Shawano, playing its first game of the season in cold and snowy conditions, was up against a Green Bay Preble team that already had five games under its belt. After an early-season trip to Kentucky, the Hornets played a doubleheader on Tuesday.
“Our goals for this game was improve every at-bat, which we did, and stay positive and engaged throughout the game, which we did,” Isaacson said. “Win or loss, I would have been happy with their approach and their attitude.”
After three scoreless innings, Megan Timmers, leading off the fourth inning, took SCHS starting pitcher Erin Cerveny deep for the first run of the game. Isaacson took the blame for the run, saying that he made a bad pitch call.
The Hawks managed two singles and four walks on Green Bay Preble’s starting pitcher Brittany Baneck before she was relieved by Piontek, when the Hawks tallied their four runs.
Zook was 2 for 2 at the plate with two singles and a walk, while first baseman Hannah Hein was walked twice.
The Hornets (3-3) then put more pressure on Cerveny in the circle, with just one out remaining in the game, Cassie Foytik hit a single, followed by a two-strike single by Timmers, before Cerveny was able to finish out the game and pick up the victory.
“They had two base hits in two-strike situations,” Isaacson said of the Hornets’ top of lineup getting a fourth plate appearance against Cerveny. “That’s why you don’t want to get to the fourth at bat.”
Shawano (1-0) will travel to New London on Thursday to open Bay Conference play.