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3rd time is the charm for Mathews
By Brandon Judeh
KENT
How you start a game can often indicate how you will finish.
Cheyenne Eggens of Mathews, proved this theory by striking out the first and last batters she faced, and 14 others in between, leading the Mustangs to a 6-0 win over Our Lady of the Elms to advance to win the Division IV regional softball championship.
Eggens, a freshman, made it look easy as she mowed down Elms batters one after the other.
“It was a little nerve racking being here in a game like this, this was our team’s first regional final game, but we got through it and we are going to state,” said an ecstatic Eggens.
She gave up only two hits in the game — the first came with two outs in the fourth inning when Taylor Schmidt hit the ball to the left side of the infield. The runner going to third was called out due to runner interference, however it was scored a hit, breaking up Eggens no-hitter.
“I just shook it off and kept going after that call was made,” said Eggens.
Not only was the Mustangs’ (24-5) pitching on fire, so was their offense.
Tabby Granelly led off the game with a double and after Jessica Marsico’s sacrifice bunt Jacki Rhine knocked her in on a double down the right-field line.
That wasn’t the last time Elms would hear from Rhine. In the sixth inning she hammered a solo home run to dead center field, finishing the game 2 for 2 with two RBIs.
“We haven’t been much of an offensive team throughout the season, we have relied mostly on our defense,” said Rhine. “Our offense has really picked it up during the tournament and it feels great to finally be going to state.”
This was the Mustangs’ third straight trip to the regional and the third time proved to be a charm.
The second inning was the back-breaker for that Panthers as they committed three errors and allowed two bunt singles.
After Hollie Shreves and Maddie Williams reached base, freshman Maddy Nicula also laid down a bunt, and a throwing error allowed Shreves and Williams to score.
Moments later a bad throw to third brought Nicula home, giving Mathews a commanding 4-0 lead.
Mathews coach Jim Nicula said playing small ball helped his offense score some runs.
“Elms helped us out a bit with those errors, but we have a very good bunting team all the way through the lineup and when you do that you put pressure on the opposing defense,” said Nicula.
The Mustangs’ bench helped out in the sixth inning when pinch hitter Natalie Halavick doubled and was followed by a pinch-hit RBI single by the only senior on the team, Kelsey Francis.
Rhine reached base three times for Mathews while Williams reached base twice and scored a run.
Akron Elms senior Kaitlin Morse, who is headed to Western Kentucky next season, reached base three times and had a hit.