BECCA’S BEST TOO MUCH FOR THE MILLS-HAMILTON 4 NY MILLS 0
FRESHMEN PHENOM REBECCA ROGERS STRIKES OUT 17 AS EMERALD KNIGHTS IMPROVE TO 11-0
Fred Miller-MHTS
Game notes: Dave Peroni
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK….Count em if you like. That’s right 17 K’s…Seventeen strikeouts that’s the number of New York Mills Marauders batters who walked away from the plate shaking their collective heads as they tried and tried to figure out how to hit Hamilton’s dominating # 9.
Earlier this season Rogers struck out 19 batters in a game, 17, 15, 12,11, in other games. You get my drift… the young lady can pitch.
With a blazing fastball and deadly drop, Rogers is winding her way to a season, and career, that will be remembered by Hamilton fans and opponents alike.
Coach Bill Dowsland must sleep well knowing that he can repeatedly send Rogers to the bump.
Today’s 4-0 shut out win helped Hamilton improve to 11-0 on the campaign and helped make the pollsters look good by naming the Knights New York State’s number one ranked Class D team. Rogers struck out 17 and allowed just 2 seventh inning hits to earn the win.
In focus. Hamilton starter Becca Rogers zones in as she get ready to go!
Speaking of the rankings, the New York Mills Marauders entered the fray today ranked #7 in the state and winners of 10 of their last 11 and 9-2 overall.
Coach Michelle Hartman and her Lady Marauders did all they could to slow down the Emerald Knights express.
It was not easy, as it was just a 2-0 game through four frames, at New York Mills High School.
So despite all the strikeouts and the fact that Rogers had a no hitter into the the seventh, this one was not a walk in the park for the green and white.
New York Mills handed the ball to Corrin Flihan, who acquitted her self nicely, battling all game long. Flihan allowed 4 runs and just six hits, while walking just 6.
It was Flihan who broke up Roger’s no hit bid, by lining one to left field, in the home half of the seventh inning, as the Marauders got both of their hits with the game winding down.
Rogers completely dominated, as she refused to allow a base runner, until right fielder Alexa Boucher worked out a one out walk in the home sixth. Boucher’s free pass was the only one allowed by Rogers.
This highly anticipated matchup pitted the Knights from the CSC III and the Marauders from the CSC IV Division.
Jenn McGauley looks down for signs as Marauders try to get to Rogers.
Fans knew this one was worth the trip to the Mills and got their monies worth and then some.
Local high school hoops fans felt right at home, as well, as both team’s rosters sported the names of some pretty good basketball players as.
Speaking of one of the Hamilton Hoopsters, lead off hitter, Katie Weeks started a run scoring rally as she doubled, one of four on the day by Hamilton, to get in scoring position.
The other Weeks, Lauren tried to move Katie over with a sac bunt but instead popped out to catcher Jena Baiguini.
Becca Rogers then walked to keep the inning alive. Katie weeks moved to third on a passed ball.
While Rogers was heading to first, on the free pass, she tried to steal second and Weeks tried to make her way home.
Problem is, first basemen Cassidy Albright would have none of it as she made a perfect throw to Jena Baiguini who slapped the tag on Weeks for the out.
Kelby Watkins hit a pop fly to second basemen Jenn McGauley, who had trouble with the catch, allowing Rogers to race home from second, with the game’s first run, as Hamilton led 1-0.
Hamilton's Katherine Keever watches a high hard one whiz by!
Hannah King, Carly Dziekan and Corrin Flihan got an early taste of what it would be like at the plate against Rogers, on this windy afternoon, as all three were struck out.
Hamilton came right back to plate another run in the top of the second to jump out to an early 2-zip lead.
Jess Welch led things off with a single to right, then stole second, to set herself up for left fielder Ashlee Prentice, who ripped an RBI double to left to bring the second run, Welch to the plate.
Three up… three down as Rogers struck out Cassidy Albright, Jenna Baiguini and Megan Keator as the Marauders went quietly in the home half of the second inning.
Corrin Flihan let the Knights know she came to play as well, sitting down Hamilton 1-2-3 to keep the deficit at just two runs.
Flihan got Lauren Weeks to pop out to second, forced Rogers to fly out to right and the induced Kelly Watkins to ground out to Carly Dziekan.
NY Mills catcher Jena Baiguini holds on as # 14 Hayden Nolan swings and misses.
Both starters cruised through the next two innings as Hamilton clung to their two run lead.
That all changed in the visitors fifth, as Hamilton put this one away. Katie Weeks doubled again, this time down the left field line, to start the inning off.
Lauren Weeks took one for the team, as she was hit in the foot by a Flihan pitch.
Two on and nobody out for the Knights. With Rebecca Rogers at the plate, Weeks and Weeks moved to second and third on a passed ball.
Flihan stuck out her mound adversary, Rogers and then Kelly Watkins walked to load the bases with Knights.
Kendall Rusch, gave Hamilton fans just that, a rush, as she doubled to right field to chase home Katie and Lauren Weeks to build the lead to 4-0 Hamilton.
That’s all the scoring the visitors would need on this day as their ace went the rest of the way for the complete game win.
The Marauders did not go down easy, as they finally broke through against Rogers and threatened to score.
The swing is the thing as Kelby Watkins lets one rip!
Corrin Flihan showed great patience at the plate and finally ripped one to left field with one out.
Jenna Baiguini singled to left field with two out to keep hopes alive. The hopes were dashed as Rogers struck out Megan Keator to end the drama.
Hamilton 4 New York Mills 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H
Hamilton 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 4 6
NY Mills 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Hitting Highlights:
Hamilton:
Katie Weeks-2 doubles-1 run scored
Jess Welch- 1 single-1 run scored
Ashlee Prentice- 1 double-1 RBI
Haden Nolan- 1 single
Kendall Rush- 1 double-2 RBI
New York Mills:
Corrin Flihan-1 single
Jenna Baiguini-1 single
Corrin Flihan follows through as the Marauders tangle with Hamilton.
