Indians pick up second win of the year

It took a long time for the Berkeley Springs High School Softball Team to get their first win of the year, but less than a week to get win number two; an 11-1 win over St. Maria Goretti on Wednesday, April 21, in Hagerstown.

And, there is nothing like a win to lift a teams spirits. Just ask Berkeley Springs coach Greg Brown.

"It's nice to see the look of joy and relief on our players faces after we win," said Brown. “We all know it has been a trying year, so any win is good for us."

Brooke Hessler had a big day for the Indians. She tossed a two-hitter, collected three hits and scored three runs.

Hessler, went the distance, allowing one run on two hits, she struck out three and walked two.

She also helped her own cause with a pair of singles, a double and three runs scored.

"Brooke has really been hitting the ball lately," said Brown.
Hessler got a lot of help from her teammates, both in the field and at the plate. The Indians only committed one error and banged out 10 hits. Katarina Napfel and Alyssa Spielman had two hits each. Napfel had a single, a double, scored two runs and knocked in three, while Spielman had a pair of singles, a RBI and three runs scored.
"Alyssa is always solid at the plate and Kat had some key hits," said Brown.

Brown was really pleased with the offensive production against a "pretty good" pitcher.

"Goretti still has a pretty good pitcher, but our girls got an early lead and gained a little confidence," Brown said.
The Indians scored three runs in the first, third and fourth innings and then put the game on ice with a pair of runs in the fifth.
Two days later, Berkeley Springs hosted a double-header against Hampshire County, with the Trojans sweeping the twinbill by respective scores of 9-5 and 10-4.

Hampshire jumped out to an early lead in game one and then held on for the 9-5 victory. The Trojans took a 9-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but the Tribe scored four runs in their last at-bat to make things interesting.

"Coming off our second win of the year I thought we would play a little better than we did," said Brown. “We made some key mistakes, at critical times, on defense. We dropped the ball at second on a couple of steals when Chelsea (Hessler) had the runner thrown out, we were only going half speed on pop-ups thinking someone else would get them and our outfielders took the wrong step a couple of times and balls went over their heads. These are things you can't do and expect to win games. I do think we showed a lot of character by trying to come back in the bottom of the seventh. We have come a long way since the beginning of the year when we just bowed out. We hung tough and that is encouraging."

The Indians continued to hit the ball hard, collecting another 10 hits, with Booke Hessler, Chelsea Hessler, Ashton Miller and Skylar Kroschinsky getting two hits apiece. Chelsea Hessler scored twice and had a RBI and Brooke Hessler scored one run.

In the nightcap, facing the same pitcher, Ashton Miller had the only hit, as the Indians fell 10-4. Miller also scored a run and added a RBI.
"When I got the lineup from Hampshire County and Coach Detrick (Steve) said they're using the same pitcher, my confidence level went through the roof," said Brown. “We had just pounded out 10 hits against this girl in game one, so if we can shore up the defense a little we should be in good shape. But, we decided not to hit in game two. I have no answer for this one. Same pitcher for Hampshire, same nine girls for us on offense. Ten hits in game one, one hit in game two."

Spielman was tagged with the loss. She went the distance, allowing 10 runs on 15 hits, striking out five and walking none.

"The bright spot on the day for the program was probably the play from some of the freshmen," said Brown.

Ashton Miller had a tremendous double-header. She was 3-7 at the plate and had our only hit in game two. She threw a girl out at first base on a base hit to right field and made some good catches in centerfield in the second game. She gives 100 percent all of the time. She will continue to learn and get better. Skylar Kroschinsky is improving with her slaps, bunts and on base percentage. She played three different positions today due to some injuries. Her biggest improvement this week has been her attitude, which has to continue. She is aware of that. Rhiannon Coble came into game one down 4-0 and pitched four innings. She only allowed two earned runs, striking out two and walking one against a much-improved AAA opponent and Lauren Schetrompf continues to learn first base. She is improving and making contact at the plate."

The Indians also lost to Moorefield last week (April 20) 11-2, in Berkeley Springs.

Spielman pitched the first four innings and Leslie Greer the final three, for the Tribe.

The game was scoreless through the opening three innings, before the Yellow Jackets scored three times in the fourth and four more times in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead. Berkeley scored twice in the sixth, but Moorefield put the game away with four runs in the seventh.

"We just faced a better team tonight," said Brown. “Usually we give up a lot of unearned runs, but that wasn't the case tonight. Ten of their 11 runs were earned. They more than doubled our hit production (11-5). I'd say they deserved to win."

Greer led the Berkeley Springs offense with two hits and a RBI.
The junior varsity lost to Moorefield, 17-0, with Victoria McCumbee getting the only hit.

The Indians, 2-21, were scheduled to play Keyser on April 27, will travel to Musselman on April 29 and will end the regular season next week when they host Martinsburg on May 3 and travel to Southern Fulton on May 4.