No opponents have been able to stop the Reeths-Puffer softball team so far this season.
The Rockets improved to 9-0 on Thursday with a convincing doubleheader sweep of Grand Rapids Northview in non-conference action at home.
While the perfect record is certainly impressive, R-P Coach Sarah Bayle said the Rockets are approaching the season one game at a time, without dwelling on the fact that they haven’t lost yet.
R-P pitcher Lainey McDaniel and third baseman Rowan Bluhm. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“We are continuing to talk to the girls about playing clean softball,” Bayle said. “We are not thinking about records or stats or anything like that. We are going out, having fun and believing in each other. That’s the biggest thing for us this year - picking each other up and having fun. If we keep doing that, and we’re going to be just fine.”
The Rockets cruised to a 13-0 victory in Game 1 while pounding out 15 hits.
Megan Barmes paced the office with a single, double and triple. Kaylee Jones, Kyleigh Bilek and Natalie Kunnen each had two singles while Mady Snyder homered and hit a double.
R-P's Jersi Bilek crosses the plate. Photo/Jeremy Clark
R-P also kept the offense moving by stealing 11 bases.
Snyder got the win on the mound, scattering four hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Reeths-Puffer completed the sweep with a 9-4 win in Game 2. The Rockets got the job done with only five hits.
Jones had a single and a triple and Snyder also had a triple. Six walks also helped the Rockets keep runners moving around the bases.
Rowan Bluhm takes a cut while Abbie Critchett waits on third base. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Kyleigh Bikek and Lainey McDaniel (five strikeouts) combined to pitch the win.
“Northview had great pitching tonight and we did a great job of fighting back and not falling for the pitches breaking out of the zone,” Bayle said. “We focused on the pitches we could really do something with. We saw three of their pitchers and we were able to make different adjustments for each one.”
The Rockets will return to action on Saturday morning with a doubleheader at Whitehall.
