Kelly softball team uses big fourth inning to rout Central 19-2

~ The Hawks had 20 at-bats in a 15-run inning against the host Tigers

Before the season started, Kelly softball coach Rhonda Ratledge said she had some doubts about whether or not her team would hit well.

Ratledge laid those worries to rest after watching the Hawks bat around in their order twice and get 10 hits in a 15-run fourth inning on Wednesday.

Junior Alexis Dock struck out three in three innings of relief and also added two RBIs to guide the Hawks to a 19-2 win in four innings over the Tigers at Central High School.

"We're starting to come around with the bats after getting off to a bit of a rocky start at the beginning of the year," Ratledge said. "Now they're coming through, and this is kind of a good time to have the girls see the ball and hit the ball hard against any opponent."

Kelly (11-3) got off to an early three-run lead in the first after capitalizing on two hits and two errors. Sydney Kern led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan Ledure and scored after Samantha Ratledge reached on an error to give Kelly a 1-0 lead.

Dock walked during the next at-bat to put runners at first and second. Ratledge stole third and scored after the throw from the Tigers' catcher was over the third baseman's head.

Two batters later, Dock scored on an RBI single from Shanda Reed to extend the lead to 3-0.

"We had throwing errors with runners in key positions," Central coach Amy Blattel said. "We've got to eliminate that, especially at this point in the season."

Central (4-6) responded with a run in the bottom of the first.

Maddie Daum led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Sydney Tollison.

Two batters later, Kaylie George's two-out single scored Tollison and cut the lead to 3-1.

Kelly starting pitcher Anna Hughes retired Ally Vaughn to end the inning, but it may have been costly.

Vaughn hit a sharp line drive back to Hughes, which bounced off her right shin. Hughes was able to keep the ball in front of her and throw Vaughn out at first but was visibly shaken up after the play.

"Of course that was her push-off leg, so I had to immediately sit her," Ratledge said. "I think she's feeling better, so we'll see how she looks in the next couple days, but everything ended up working out for us."

Kelly added a run in the second inning when McKynlee Neumeyer reached on a fielder's choice and scored two batters later on an RBI single from Ledure.

Neumeyer went 2 for 4 with a single and a triple and two RBIs.

Hughes' early exit forced Ratledge to put Dock in the game.

"It's not what I had planned to do, and usually that's not the spot she (Dock) would come in for us," Ratledge said. "But we've had some other pitchers get injured, so she was really the next one up, and she responded well to it."

Dock retired the next seven Central batters she faced and said she felt good pitching in relief.

"I've come in probably about three times this year and pitched in relief, so it's not new. It's actually pretty comfortable at this point," Dock said.

In the fourth inning, Kelly had 20 at-bats. Five players reached base, and all five scored before Central recorded the first out of the inning.

Kristi Brucker and Savannah Ashley each had two hits in the inning.

Freshman Hailey Noon, the Hawks' eighth hitter on the batting order, got things started with a single in the fourth and also went 2 for 2.

"I've been focusing more on my hitting lately since I'm playing varsity and trying to help this team win," Noon said. "My hitting has improved a lot lately. We all help each other out, but the upperclassmen, especially Dock, help me out a lot with all the fundamentals like keeping my head in and squaring up. But we've all become better hitters. It's not just me."

Ratledge said she liked the production from Noon at the bottom of the order.

"I have girls that can hit no matter where they are in the lineup, and she's definitely been coming through a lot more lately," Ratledge said about Noon. "Anytime you get production low in the order, there's a good chance you're going to have a good game like we did today."

The Tigers scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, when Amanda Webb singled and scored Brooke Anderson to make it 19-2.

Ratledge said she has more confidence in the Hawks' offensive production at this point in the season.

"This is a good time to be hitting," Ratledge said. "Hopefully we can maintain this and keep the bats hot as we head into districts."

Kelly 310 15 -- 19 15 1

Central 100 2x -- 2 4 5

WP -- Alexis Dock. LP -- Maggie Groshong. 3B -- McKynlee Neumeyer (K). 2B -- Hailey Noon (K). Multiple hitters -- Kelly: Alexis Dock 2-4, Kristi Brucker 2-4, Hailey Noon 2-2, Savannah Ashley 2-2, McKynlee Neumeyer 2-4.