Howard Uses Bat, Glove To Lead Valley SB Over Triton
April 9, 2019 at 3:08 a.m.
Howard Uses Bat, Glove To Lead Valley SB Over Triton
By Mark [email protected]
Howard reached base six times, including a pair of doubles, two singles, a walk and reaching on an error. She scored three times and drove in a pair of runs.
But her best play came on defense. With Valley leading 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning and Howard pitching, she caught a line drive just to the third-base side of the pitching circle, then beat a Trojan runner back to third for an inning-ending, unassisted double play.
In the sixth, with the score 6-3, Howard moved to shortstop and threw out a lead runner at third to quell Triton’s last rally.
The Vikings sent 17 players to the plate, scoring 11 runs and leaving the bases loaded in the seventh to blow a fairly close game wide open.
“We’re going to take advantage of (Howard’s leadership) this year. she’ll be like that all year long,” said Viking head coach Daryl Shoemaker. “She was like that last year, too. It’ll be good to have her come back and play multiple positions.”
Most of the seventh-inning damage came after two outs. Eleven straight hitters reached base, including a three-run double by Kayleena Agnew, a two-run single by Mayde Fear and a two-run double by Ally Betten.
Shoemaker said he wasn’t especially surprised by the outburst, but knows better than to expect the Vikings to score double-digit runs each night.
“I think we’re going to be able to hit. I’m not going to be overconfident and say we’re going put up 17 runs every game,” Shoemaker said with a smile. “We have a lot of aggressive hitters who swing at strikes, and that helps. We could probably take a few more walks earlier in the game, maybe see some more pitches (to improve.)
“But when the bats come alive, these girls are going to go hard.”
Triton has been up and down the last three games, giving up 20 runs to Rochester Friday before sweeping Argos in a doubleheader Saturday. The Trojans made a few mental mistakes, such a leaving a base uncovered, that proved to be critical in the loss.
“We lost momentum, made a couple of errors and then we got our heads out of it,” Triton head coach Shannon Houlihan said.
“It’s mental. It’s all mental. These girls have the ability, but they’re young and they’re learning the game. Right now, one mental mistake can take them out of a game.”
Triton (2-3) will host Plymouth in non-conference play today. Valley (1-1) travels to Winamac on Thursday,
Howard reached base six times, including a pair of doubles, two singles, a walk and reaching on an error. She scored three times and drove in a pair of runs.
But her best play came on defense. With Valley leading 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning and Howard pitching, she caught a line drive just to the third-base side of the pitching circle, then beat a Trojan runner back to third for an inning-ending, unassisted double play.
In the sixth, with the score 6-3, Howard moved to shortstop and threw out a lead runner at third to quell Triton’s last rally.
The Vikings sent 17 players to the plate, scoring 11 runs and leaving the bases loaded in the seventh to blow a fairly close game wide open.
“We’re going to take advantage of (Howard’s leadership) this year. she’ll be like that all year long,” said Viking head coach Daryl Shoemaker. “She was like that last year, too. It’ll be good to have her come back and play multiple positions.”
Most of the seventh-inning damage came after two outs. Eleven straight hitters reached base, including a three-run double by Kayleena Agnew, a two-run single by Mayde Fear and a two-run double by Ally Betten.
Shoemaker said he wasn’t especially surprised by the outburst, but knows better than to expect the Vikings to score double-digit runs each night.
“I think we’re going to be able to hit. I’m not going to be overconfident and say we’re going put up 17 runs every game,” Shoemaker said with a smile. “We have a lot of aggressive hitters who swing at strikes, and that helps. We could probably take a few more walks earlier in the game, maybe see some more pitches (to improve.)
“But when the bats come alive, these girls are going to go hard.”
Triton has been up and down the last three games, giving up 20 runs to Rochester Friday before sweeping Argos in a doubleheader Saturday. The Trojans made a few mental mistakes, such a leaving a base uncovered, that proved to be critical in the loss.
“We lost momentum, made a couple of errors and then we got our heads out of it,” Triton head coach Shannon Houlihan said.
“It’s mental. It’s all mental. These girls have the ability, but they’re young and they’re learning the game. Right now, one mental mistake can take them out of a game.”
Triton (2-3) will host Plymouth in non-conference play today. Valley (1-1) travels to Winamac on Thursday,
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092