43
Big inning sends J-M past rival Springfield
By Brandon judeh
North Jackson
Dominance is something the Jackson-Milton High softball team has become accustomed to over the past 15 years.
Monday’s performance against Springfield was no different as the Lady Jays defeated the Tigers 12-1 in five innings.
Bluejays (8-1) starter Paije Kiraly pitched a complete game, but it didn’t start out smoothly.
In the top of the second, Springfield (2-3) had runners on second and third with no outs after an error and a double by Kim Taylor. Kiraly retired the next two batters, but Madison Groner’s single gave the Tigers the early lead.
That run would be all for the Tigers, though, as a combination of Jackson-Milton’s explosive offense and their solid defense did the rest.
“My goal was to go out, strike them out and make some good pitches,” said Kiraly.
With the score tied at one in the bottom of the third inning, the Bluejays sent 15 batters to the plate and the first 10 reached safely.
In all Jackson-Milton scored 11 runs in the inning to tame the Tigers.
Though it was a huge inning, Kiraly said it wasn’t the biggest inning she has been a part of.
“A while back we had a huge 19-run inning, but this was big today, scoring 11 in one inning, and it’s really going to build this team’s confidence,” she said.
The inning started off with a Taylor Tharp walk and she came around to score on a throwing error.
Later in the inning Kiraly knocked in two runs on a single, but it was Zaina Shali’s double that put a stranglehold on Springfield.
With one out and the bases loaded Shali blasted a double to left centerfield to clear the bases and give the Bluejays an 11-1 lead.
“It felt pretty great, I was waiting on an outside pitch and I got one and waited back on it and connected,” said Shali.
A Caitlyn Carney RBI single capped the scoring off for the Lady Jays and made coach Kelly Snowden very happy.
“With girls you need to have chemistry and on our team they are all friends on and off the field so that makes things a lot easier,” said Snowden.
Snowden also added that Kiraly is much more relaxed this season and is pitching with more confidence thanks to the offense giving her comfortable leads.
The past 15 years have been kind to Snowden as the Jackson-Milton softball program is constantly in contention and winning sectional and district titles. Snowden gives all the credit to the feeder programs and athletes at the school.
“I’m fortunate to have a great Hot Stove program that feeds into our high school team and our athletes are dedicated. The tradition of winning we have here is great because the kids buy into it right from the beginning.”
Springfield’s Samantha Semach reached base three times and scored a run.
For the Bluejays, Shali knocked in four RBIs, Katie Santor had two hits and an RBI and Shannon Ricketson went 2 for 3.