Lady Bobcats sweep past visiting Cassopolis
Published 1:50 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2009
By By DON EDEN / Niles Daily Star
After winning two games the entire season the Brandywine softball team have won four games this week with two victories over Lakeland Conference member Cassopolis on Tuesday following Monday's sweep against White Pigeon.
Freshman Brande Overholt was the winning pitcher in every game and allowed three hits against the Lady Rangers in each game as the Lady Bobcats outscored Cassopolis 6-3 and 9-1 respectively.
"Brande (Overholt) is throwing all her pitches well and is the best she can be right now by gaining confidence each game," said a cheerful Brandywine coach Angie Mellott. "It is a good week so far and hope to keep it going Friday against Coloma."
Cassopolis (5-15, 2-6) couldn't take advantage of five Lady Bobcat errors in the opener after taking a 2-0 lead with a pair of plated runs in the third stanza, but four unearned runs led the hosts in the comeback with two runs apiece in their final three innings.
"It was a tough game to lose as we made some mental mistakes in the first game which was very much a game we should have won," stated Cassopolis coach Richard Grahl. "We always go into each game expecting to win so our attitude is good."
Leading the way for Brandywine (6-17, 4-4) at the plate was junior Shawna Bromley with a pair of singles in the six-hit attack with sophomore Alyssa Robbins adding a double. Senior Emily Phillips had a double and single for Cassopolis.
Junior Jessica Biek was the tough luck pitcher in both games for Cassopolis as the fielders duplicated the three errors in each game and sent senior center fielder Kathy Kelly to the fence in the second game as a batter.
The Biek blast would have tied the score at three runs apiece in the fourth inning as the Lady Rangers hit the ball hard all game into a Brandywine glove.
"We have been preaching to the girls to hit more line shots or grounders instead of pop ups," indicated Grahl. "It is disappointing as we stress that because we don't get on base enough."
A rocket shot sealed the second game in the fifth inning off the bat of Brandywine junior Katie Robbins as the ball sailed by the scoreboard over the fence in centerfield.
"Katie (Robbins) has a good swing and that home run was big as we woke up after the fourth inning of the opener," mentioned Mellott. "We made too many errors of all kinds in the opener and came back by stepping up in the second game."
The Lady Bobcats had a total of eight hits and no errors in the nightcap with senior catcher Jill Sater providing a pair of singles and three runs batted in. Bromley matched her two singles and senior Leah Kachur added a double for the victors.
Seniors Reva Ivens and Brittany Francis along with junior Torie Conner each had a single for Cassopolis.
"Reva (Ivens) is the best centerfielder I have seen this year, but all our seniors need to step it up to get us going for the districts," concluded Grahl. "We have a young team with 8 juniors so our future is still looking good."
First Game
Cassopolis 002 001 0 – 3 3 3
Brandywine 000 222 x – 6 6 5
WP – Brande Overholt (3-13) and Jill Sater
LP – Jessica Biek and Brittany Francis
2B: Emily Phillips (C), Alyssa Robbins (BW)
Second game
Cassopolis 000 100 0 – 1 3 3
Brandywine 102 033 x – 9 8 0
WP – Brande Overholt (4-13) and Jill Sater
LP – Jessica Biek and Brittany Francis
HR: Katie Robbins (BW)
Varsity records: Cassopolis 5-12, 2-6 Lakeland; Brandywine 6-17, 4-4 Lakeland