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Bats alive: Adams, Rochester split in offensive slugfest

Dan Stickradt | May 5, 2011 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — Pitching will not be at a premium in the OAA softball race this season.

With the circle being pushed back three feet and most teams graduating their top pitchers, 2011will be an adjustment period for hurlers around the league.

And hitters are ready to feast.

This was obvious during Wednesday’s OAA White Division opener between host Rochester and Rochester Adams. The two teams combined for 49 runs in a twinbill, with Adams earning the win in the opener, 15-12, while Rochester took the nightcap, 12-10.

Adams (5-5, 1-1) outhit Rochester 15-12 in Game 1 en route to the win.

“If we get 15 runs a game, we’ll win a few,” joked Adams coach Fran Scislowicz. “I thought we might hit with anybody around. Other than the (inexperienced pitching, we have one of the best lineups we’ve ever had.”

Rochester led 3-0 after the first inning and 5-2 after two frames. Adams erupted for eight runs in the third inning to grab the lead for good and added five in the fourth for a 15-8 lead. Rochester scored two in the fourth and two more in the seventh before running out of gas.

The high scoring affair is not a surprise to Rochester coach Jenny Morgan.

“I don’t think there are any dominant pitchers in our league,” said Morgan. “Everyone is still getting groove playing ball games because of the weather, and when there is not one dominant pitcher with the (circle) being pushed back, it’s going to create more offense.”

In the opener Emily Bryce was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI and Alyse Wilson finished 2-for-3 with a double and scored three runs to pace Adams’ balanced attack. Michelle Colpean gained the win from the circle.

Maggie Irvine was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, scored three times and had one RBI. Amanda Graham was 3-for-4, scored three runs and drove in two others for Rochester (5-7, 1-1) in Game 1.

Rochester gained it revenge in the nightcap to force a split for the second straight year.

The Falcons took a 7-0 lead in the second inning only to see Adams put up a six-spot to narrow the gap. Rochester outscored Adams 5-4 over the final five innings to keep the Highlanders at bay.

Irvine was 4-for-5 with a triple, scored a run and drove home another. Mackenzie Duff was 3-for-4 with a double, scored three times and had an RBI for the Falcons, who outhit Adams 17-12. Martha Troy was the winning pitcher for Rochester.

“We led the whole way in the second game and I think we played better,” said Morgan. “We’re like everyone else. We haven’t played that many games. We’ll get better.”

Breaana Poclyn finished the second game 3-for-5, had an RBI and scored another, while Alex Bahner was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI for the Highlanders.

“I think once our pitching gets more experience, we’ll get better,” said Scislowicz. “I knew all along we’d compete as long as the bats are (clicking). I think Rochester is a good team, too. They have some nice bats in their lineup and they have a lot of their players back (from last year). It’s going to be an interesting (league) race. Avondale won it last season and we were second. (Troy) Athens is going to be a good team, too. There are a lot of teams that could win our league.”