by Bill Rudick
brudick55@gmail.com
LIONVILLE>>After struggling early, the Cougars’ bats got hot, as Downingtown East (15-1 overall, 7-1 Ches-Mont) pushed across 11 runs over the final four innings of play and cruised to an 11-1 win over visiting Oxford (4-6, 2-3 Ches-Mont) in a game shortened to six innings under the Mercy Rule.
“They were challenging us early,” said East coach Peggy O’Dwyer. “And that’s a good thing. We need to be able to face challenges and overcome them as we get deeper into the season. We had to dig deep. No one was perfect, but we just kept at it until things started going our way.”
Sofia Kucera may have been an exception with regards to perfection. The Cougars’ second baseman played error free defense in the field, and was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate, scoring once and knocking in three runs, including the game-ender in the bottom of the sixth.
“The last week or so I’d kind of been in a little bit of a hitting a slump,” said Kucera. “So coming in, I really just tried to stay positive, and do the things like slap and bunt that I know I can do and tried to snap myself out of it.”
With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third, the Cougars bats came alive, as East strung together five straight singles from lead-off hitter Jade Jenkins, and followed by Kucera, Lily Waterer, Rachael Schumann (3-for4, double, RBI) and Hailey Long (2-for4, two runs scored, RBI).
“We all jest keep a positive mindset,” said Kucera. “We’re always cheering each other on, and we have faith anyone can come through for us. We all hit today, which is really great to see.”
Oxford answered back with a run of their own in the top half of the fourth. Ericka Ortega got things going, dropping down a lead-off bunt for a single. Ashley Flynn followed with a base on balls, then Alexa Keenan moved them up sixty feet with a sacrifice bunt.
With runners on second and third, Natalia Donofrio loaded the bases with another bunt, then Sydney Kargulewicz picked up an RBI with a walk.
But the Hornets would only manage three more base runners, as Schumann went to work in the circle. Schuman picked up the win with six strong innings, allowing one run on just three hits, striking out nine, while walking just two.
“Early on, Oxford kept making plays,” said Schumann, who will be playing for Seton Hall next spring. “Especially that shortstop (Gracie Allen) who had us frustrated with how many basehits she took away. But we just kept positive and moving forward. In the beginning of the year, well all wrote down goal sheets, and it was, for all of us, win the Ches-Mont, win districts, win states. All those goals are still in reach.)
For the Hornets, the defending District 1, 5A champions, securing a spot in the district tournament is still very much attainable.
“We just have to keep on punching,” said Oxford coach Bob Van Zyl. “We just have to start stringing hits together. We know we can hit and come from behind. We know we can get the bats going early and get out front. We just have to starting putting everything together. Once you make the district tournament, anything can happen.”
Downingtown East 11, Oxford 1, six innings
Oxford 0 0 0 1 0 0 0—1
D East 0 0 3 0 4 4 X—11
WP—Schumann LP—Ortega
3B—Cohen 2B—Schumann
