Line drive can't keep Butler hurler down in win vs. Mars





ADAMS TWP — Angie Reddick wanted to finish what she started.
The
Butler softball pitcher cruised through the first five Mars batters she faced before a line drive by Vanessa Dufford hit her in the right calf. Reddick crumpled to the dirt and had to be helped off the field.
But Reddick wasn't done.
Reddick pitched the final two innings to finish off a one-hitter in a 6-1
Butler win over Mars Tuesday.
Golden Tornado coach Lori Kline had a simple answer to why she put Reddick back into the game.
"She wouldn't quit begging," Kline said. "She was fine. She got up and was running on it. "
Amanda Skidmore, coming off her own leg injury, relieved Reddick and pitched 3Z\c perfect innings.
The two Tornado pitchers had a perfect game until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Reddick walked the first batter she faced after re-entering the game.
They kept the no-hitter intact until Mars center fielder Dana Wonderly tripled to lead off the seventh.
Wonderly later scored on a wild pitch to end the shutout bid.
No matter, though. A win is a win and with it came the knowledge that the Tornado have two quality pitchers.
"(Skidmore) came to some of our pitching and catching practices," Kline said. "It may not be her favorite position, but she's really good at it."
Reddick and Skidmore were particularly good at getting Mars hitters to swing and miss. The duo struck out 12. Reddick fanned eight of the 12 batters she faced.
For Mars (0-3), the offensive struggles have become a disturbing trend just three games into the season.
"We went to
Florida and pretty much did the same thing down there," said Planets coach Michele Goodworth. "When the kids get more at-bats, I think they'll feel more assured about themselves hitting the ball."
Mars lost six starters from last year's team. Many in the lineup against
Butler were getting their first real taste of varsity softball.
The offensive woes have spoiled the good start by Mars freshman pitcher Haley Jones.
The Planets' No. 1 starter, Rachel Pastorek, has not been cleared to pitch yet after suffering a strained shoulder.
That has put the pitching onus on Jones early this season.
Butler scored four runs in the first two innings off of Jones, the key hit coming on a two-run triple by Skidmore in the first.
But Jones settled down after the rough start, giving up just four hits over the final five innings.
When Pastorek returns, Jones will move to first base.
"Jones has been pitching this whole time," Goodworth said. "I don't think she truly, truly expected it. She knew she was going to pitch in some JV games. But she's done a great job."
Butler did a great job again playing small ball.
Leadoff hitter Nikki Hladik had a bunt single and a sacrifice bunt, and Jocelyn Bachman had a bunt single.
With the speedy bunters on base, the big bashers in the
Butler lineup have been adept at driving them in.
No. 5 hitter Sadie Marak also had a run-scoring triple for
Butler.
Toss two quality pitchers into the equation and it's no wonder that, just two games into the season, Kline likes what she is seeing.
"These girls have a lot of heart and have the drive to win," Kline said. "They want to win, they want to play hard and they all want to be on the field."

Butler 310 100 1—6 9 0
Mars 000 000 1—1 1 2
WP:
Amanda Skidmore (3 1/3 IP) 4 strikeouts, 0 walks. LP: Haley Jones (7 IP) 2 strikeouts, 2 walks
Butler (2-0): Olivia Vasey 2B, RBI; Erica Thrower 2-1B, RBI; Sadie Marak 1B, 3B, RBI; Skidmore 3B, 2-RBI; Jocelyn Bachman 2-1B