12U Hornet Girls Erupt For 23 Runs, Beat Havenwood

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By Colin Murphy

On May 12, the 12U Green Hornets softball team improved to 7-1 on the season by erupting for 23 runs in a 23-12 victory over the Havenwood Heat at George Fox Middle School. The Green Hornets scored the maximum five runs in each of the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to take home the victory.

“Everyone can play different positions, and they don’t worry about where they’re playing,” said Head Coach Joe Shehade after the win. “They like stealing bases and we give them the green light, which puts a lot of pressure on the other team.”

The Green Hornets put the pressure on Havenwood from the opening pitch. Playing without the strong-hitting Taylor Shehade, the Hornets flexed their muscles at the plate. Kayla Curry and Shannon Fletcher led off the top of the first with back-to-back singles. After Catherine Harding walked, Sophia Lundeen singled, scoring both Curry and Fletcher to put Severna Park up 2-0. Harding and Lundeen later scored on a base hit by Elaina Wall, giving the Green Hornets a 4-0 lead. After drawing a walk, Laura Hedensted stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch, giving the Green Hornets a 5-0 lead after one.

A walk by Emma Bourgeise and singles by Caroline Forsyth and Joelle Cingel plated another run for the Green Hornets in the second. In the top of the third, the Green Hornets tacked on another two runs via base hits by Hailey O’Mara and Fletcher and walks by Kayla Holmes and Curry to extend the lead to 8-1.

The fourth was the first of three straight max-out scoring rallies by the Green Hornets. Base hits by Angela Luthcke and Bourgeise and walks by Lundeen, Wall, and Hedensted led to all five players eventually scoring, and the Green Hornets held a 13-6 lead.

After Havenwood scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to narrow the gap to 13-8, the Green Hornets again went on the offensive. Emma Kniola led off the top of the fifth with a walk, and team-wide discipline at the plate led to walks by O’Mara, Holmes, Curry, Fletcher, and Harding, totaling five runs.

The top of the sixth saw the Green Hornets switch from patient to aggressive at the plate. Sarah Sherman led off the inning with a single and was followed by base hits by Lundeen and Wall, both of whom eventually scored after stolen bases and wild pitches. Walks by Bourgeise and Forsyth led to their eventual scores as well, and the Green Hornets maxed out the inning with five runs and finished with a gaudy 23 for the game.

After the game, the players were all smiles, and they attributed their success so far this year to their approach towards the game.

“We have good sportsmanship, and we always cheer each other on,” said Caroline Forsythe.

Coach Shehade agrees, and adds that the girls have maintained positive attitudes and gelled quickly. “They’ve come together real fast,” said Shehade of his group. “We’ve played strong all year.” 

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