Downingtown West stays unbeaten with win over Kennett

KENNETT SQUARE >> Downingtown West pounded out 13 hits to post its second road win in as many days, handing Kennett a 16-0 defeat in five innings in a Ches-Mont cross-divisional match-up. The Whippets improve to 5-0 (3-0 National) on the season, while the Blue Demons fall to 3-2 (1-1 American). 

The loss for the Blue Demons could go down as far deeper than merely an early season defeat, as their all-everything star, Genevieve Ebaugh, went down with an injury in the first inning. 

“This isn’t the game we were expecting when we came down here today,” said West coach Joey Germani. “We went through something like this last year when Morgan (DeFreitas) was injured.  I just hope Gen’s OK.  You hate to see anything serious happen to a player like that for her senior year.” 

Ebaugh retired the side in the top half of the first, with two strikeouts, and came up to the plate to lead-off for the Blue Demons half of the inning.  Ebaugh doubled down the line, then, while in the midst of a successful attempt to steal third, went down awkwardly as she came past the bag.  The Demons’ ace came out to warm up the following inning, but was unable to continue.  The full nature and prognosis of the injury was unknown at press time.

West got on board the following inning, plating a run on hits from Darby Weller (2 for 4, RBI, 2R) and Ava Zettlemoyer (3 for 3, 2B, RBI, 4R), along with three walks.

“These girls work really hard and will do whatever they can to support their teammates,” said Kennett coach Lauren Gottstein. “Aubrey (Wescott) is just a freshman, making her first-ever appearance in a high school game, under some tough circumstances. The team made some nice plays behind her, and cheered each other on the whole day. That’s all you can ask for.” 

West blew the game open over the next three innings, pushing across four runs in the third, eight in the fourth, and another three in the fifth. 
Meanwhile, Zettlemoyer, who went five innings yesterday for the win over Avon Grove, was as on as could be in the circle, allowing just two singles over the final three innings she worked, while striking out eight.  Addison Carter threw the final inning, striking out two of the four hitters she faced in relief.
“We knew coming in how good Genevieve was and were expecting a battle, but we played really well as a team today,” said Zettlemoyer. “As far as pitching two days in a row is concerned, I wasn’t at all worried.  It’s fun to go back-to-back days.”

The Whippets got a hit or a run from every slot in the batting order.  In addition to Zettlemoyer and Weller, West saw Lauren Largoza (3 for 4, 2B, 3 RBI) and Morgan Barry (2 for 2, RBI, R) notch multi-hit games, and MJ Nicholson chipped in with a pinch hit home run to drive in the final three runs of the game. 

“We all had to adjust to a completely different style of pitcher,” said Weller, who also made a beautiful diving catch in the first inning that likely saved a run. “We’re off to a really good start. I just hope our pitchers keep it going and we all stay healthy and keep playing the way we have been.”
For Kennett, thoughts turn to Ebaugh, and hopes for a speedy recovery.

“We have to hope it’s nothing serious,” said Gottstein. “We all just hope Gen is better soon.”