Following a winless showing in the Cameron Tournament, first year head coach Madi Stillwell felt like her offense was showing some small improvements. It was enough to make her a little optimistic going forward with the season.
But even Stillwell had to be a little surprised when Trenton’s bats exploded for 14 runs in the bottom of the first inning Monday against Albany, paving the way for the team’s first win of the season and the first win of Stillwell’s head coaching career. The game was called in the fifth by the 10-run rule with Trenton leading 17-6.
Trenton scored 10 runs in the five games they played at the Cameron Tournament combined. The Bulldogs had 10 runs on the board in less than a half hour on Monday.
After yielding five runs in the top of the first inning, Trenton responded in the biggest way possible. Gracyn Rongey hit a leadoff double and when the Warriors showed an ineptitude to field Chandler Lynch’s bunt, the Bulldogs pounced. Lynch, Mirena King, Madi Moore and Eliana Cowling all laid down bunts and all reached bases successfully as Albany scuffled in the field. Trenton then went to work with full swings, catching and overtaking Albany on the scoreboard. When the dust settled Trenton held a 14-5 edge.
“I’ve seen all these girls square the ball up and hit it hard,” Stillwell said. “In Cameron, we only saw that a few times.”
“In the first inning tonight I thought maybe this was a team we could bunt on and it was. When we had runners in scoring positions and two outs I wanted to let them hit to find that confidence. Momentum has a big effect on softball, so when things are going your way, most likely that confidence and momentum rolls from one person to the next.”
Albany got one run back in the top of the second, but Trenton’s defense and pitcher Emma Roberts settled in after that and kept the Warriors off the board the rest of the way.
“Having a lead always helps the defense relax,” Stillwell said. “Something we have talked about is playing for each other. When the offense does their job, pitchers can relax and throw, relying on the defense to give their best.”
Trenton meanwhile, pushed the lead to 10 runs with a two spot in the bottom of the second and after an insurance run in the fourth, Trenton retired Albany in the top of the fifth to end the game via the run rule.
Rongey had a huge night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, stolen base, three runs scored and two more driven in. Lynch was 2-for-3 with a double, two steals, two runs and two RBIs. Mirena King was 2-for-4 with 2 singles, a steal, three runs and two RBIs and Moore went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Cowling was 2-for-4 with a steal, two runs and an RBI while Jena Harris finished 1-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBIs. Morgan King was 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and two RBIs while Teya Cooksey went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBIs. Rounding out the offensive assault was Shay Westerhof who was 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a run and an RBI.
“Gracyn started the first inning off with a hard hit,” Stillwell said. “From there I think the girls realized if one person could do it, they all could do it, too.”
Roberts picked up the win in the circle, throwing all five frames, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out five.
Trenton improved to 1-5 overall on the season. The Bulldogs open Grand River Conference play tonight, traveling to Unionville to face Putnam County, weather permitting.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Trenton’s junior varsity picked up a win in its first action of the season, topping Albany’s second squad 7-3.
Jena Hunter and Morgan Foster each had two hits to pace the JV offense while Mikensy Golden and Tymber Cooksey each had one hit, Cooksey’s being a triple.
Hunter was the winning pitcher, throwing four innings with four strikeouts.