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Swipas, Champion get the best of rivals from Lakeview
By Jim Flick
CORTLAND
Sometimes one run is enough, especially when of most of the opposing batters strike out.
The Champion High softball team (15-2, 8-0 AAC) defeated Lakeview 1-0 on Saturday behind the outstanding pitching of senior Lindsay Swipas.
Swipas (14-0) struck 18 batters, while giving up only a single hit. She walked one Lakeview batter, and hit another.
Alexis Neumeister, a senior, pitched well for Lakeview (17-5, 7-3), limiting Champion to just five hits.
In fact, the game’s only run was unearned. Champion senior Alison Sorber trotted home from third in the fifth inning on a dropped fly ball.
With Swipas controlling the game from the mound, the single run was enough to win the game.
“I just relax and don’t really think about,” said Swipas. “I just go out there and pitch.”
She said a key to her strong pitching is keeping hitters guessing by varying her pitches.
“Changing from up to down, inside to outside,” and “definitely hitting your spots.”
But a vital factor, she said, is the defensive play of her teammates.
“My defense is always awesome. I love my defense. If the ball’s hit, I don’t worry because they can make the plays.”
Playing while Swipas is on the mound “is always fun,” said Mackenzie Kiser, a junior. “We know we can rely on her and she can rely on us.”
Winning the rivalry game is important to Kiser.
“We try to come in with a mental readiness, because each team gives us their best shot,” she said. “But it’s always been close games with Lakeview because they are our rivals.”
Champion coach Cheryl Weaver enjoys the games with Lakeview as well.
“You have to score runs to win the game,” said Weaver. “You have to have an offense. You can strike out all the opposing batters, but you still have to score a run to win the game.
“And Lakeview is one of those teams that with one swing of the bat could change everything. We give them a lot of respect.”
Lakeview coach Carl Eaton said he invited his players to challenge Swipas’ pitching.
“I gave them the right-of-way to swing most of the time. They’re a good hitting team, one of the best teams I’ve coached. And she [Swipas] does that to them, so we know she’s a pretty good pitcher.”