McCallister, Hubs subdue rival Rebels

April 12, 2008|By LARRY YANOS

The North Hagerstown softball team used a combination of ingredients Friday afternoon to blank visiting cross-town rival South Hagerstown 5-0 in an MVAL Piedmont game.

North senior Ashley McCallister turned in a masterful pitching performance, shutting the Rebels down on four hits, while her defense played extremely well.

South junior pitcher Chelsea Showe didn't enjoy the same type of support. The Rebels committed three errors in the first inning -- leading to three unearned runs for North -- and that proved to be more than enough for McCallister.

"She pitched a great game and our defense really played well," North coach Amanda Fleming said. "We're still not hitting the ball as well as I would like. We have a week off now between games and we'll be working on the offense, for sure."

North (6-3, 3-1) went to work early against Showe as Destanie Agee reached on an error and raced to second base on Caroline Kreiger's single to left field.

A wild pitch moved the runners up a base and then Shanan Plunkett beat out a slow roller to South shortstop Brittany Hyatt to load the bases with no outs.

Two more errors and another wild pitch produced the three North runs.

The Hubs provided McCallister with more cushion in the second inning as Courtney Bowlus and Agee delivered infield hits down the third-base line.

Another error and an RBI single by Kreiger produced the final two runs of the contest.

"I felt pretty good out there," McCallister said. "I was trying to change pitches. The defense did a great job. One of the team goals is to defeat South High. It's a good rivalry. And a shutout makes it even better."

South (3-6, 1-2) had some good opportunities against McCallister but the infield play of third baseman Agee, shortstop Alyssa Collier, second baseman Kreiger and first baseman Tanaishia Russ delivered some big plays on hard hit balls off the Rebels' bats.

Kreiger led the North offensive attack with two hits.

"The early mistakes cost us," South coach Angie McQuillen said. "Chelsea pitched a good game. We just gave them too many runs."

Hyatt tripled for South.

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