Boyertown’s bats too much for Upper Merion

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UPPER MERION >> The Boyertown softball team had a dickens of a time finding and then getting to Walker Field, home of the Upper Merion softball team Thursday afternoon.
It might have been the hardest part of the Bears day.

Once at Walker, the Bears exploded for 15 runs, got a one-hit pitching performance from Emily Bradley and cruised past the Vikings, 15-0, in five innings.

Kylie Hertzler clubbed a three-run homer and the Bears closed out the contest with an eight-run fifth inning.

But the key for Boyertown, said Bradley, is that the team is enjoying playing under first-year head coach Kim Musselman.

“We’re really enjoying ourselves this year,” Bradley said. “It’s been refreshing playing under Coach Musselman. “We’re having fun. It’s a complete 360 from last year.

“We loved our coach from last year (Brandi Hankins), but sometimes we had trouble seeing eye-to-eye with her. Coach Musselman has been terrific.”

Upper Merion’s Katelyn Barr attempts a bunt during game against Boyertown April 7, 2017.
(Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

The Bears got off to a slow start, but got a first-inning run, and then just kept adding on. Alyssa Acker’s two-run single and Bradley’s RBI single keyed a three-run third. Hertzler’s three-run homer to left made it 7-0 in the fourth. Then the Bears exploded with an eight-run fifth that featured RBI singles from Kody Streeter (three RBIs), Alyssa Acker (three RBIs) and Veronica Maryanski.

All Upper Merion head coach John Whitney could do was shrug his shoulders and tip his cap to the Bears.

“We have a young team this year,” Whitney said, “and Boyertown really hits the ball. “Give them credit, they have a good team. We’re young and we’ll probably get a few more of these kinds of losses. “We go to Perk Valley Monday, so that should be another tough game.”

Boyertown’s Lauren Gabel is tagged out during run down between third and home by Upper Merion catcher Samantha Deskiewicz April 7, 2017.
(Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

As for Musselman, she had a wide smile as her Bears danced off to find the bus after the game.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” the first-year coach said. “I think we’re learning a lot from each other, but we’re enjoying ourselves while we learn. “We’re learning a lot from our team, but I think they’re learning a lot, too.”

BOYERTOWN 15, UPPER MERION 0
Boyertown 103 38 – 15
Upper Merion 000 00 – 0
WP – Emily Bradley
LP – Kayla Warren
2B – Grace Evan
HR – Kylie Hertzler

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