FRUITPORT – A lot of people think the Reeths-Puffer softball team has the offense and pitching to put together a special season, and on Wednesday the Rockets put it all on display with an impressive 14-1 road victory over a good Fruitport squad.
R-P's Brook Buchan wasted no time giving the Rockets a 2-0 lead when she hit a two-run double in the top of the first.
Later in the inning, Mady Snyder hit a RBI groundout to extend the led to 3-0.
R-P pitcher Mady Snyder. Photo/Angela Rusnak
In the second inning, Abbie Critchett added a two-run homer to center field to make the score 5-0, then Madison Reichert hit a RBI single, giving the Rockets a 6-0 lead.
Reeths-Puffer scored three more runs in the third inning when Caydence Rettinhouse was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, then Kyleigh Bilek and Tessa Ross each scored on wild pitches.
While the offense was hot, Snyder was absolutely dominant on the pitching mound, striking out the first eight Trojan hitters.
R-P's Ava Gibbs slides into third base. Photo/Angela Rusnak
“It felt really good,” said Snyder, who finished with 10 strikeouts while allowing one run on just five hits. “I could see my teammates' reaction and everyone getting excited (during the streak of eight straight strikeouts). I was just seeing everyone around me enjoying it, and it helped knowing my teammates had my back.”
In the fourth inning, Bilek had a two-run single to extend the Reeths-Puffer lead to 10-0.
The Reeths-Puffer offensive effort was completed in the fifth inning with four more runs.
R-P's Olivia Ambler runs the bases. Photo/Angela Rusnak
Fruitport scored in the bottom of the fifth inning on a RBI squeeze bunt by Maya Aldridge, but it wasn't enough, and the game ended early due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Lainey McDaniel led the Rockets with three hits, three RBIs and three runs while Critchett totaled two hits, two RBIs and two runs.
Buchan had three RBIs and scored two runs while Bilek had two hits, one RBI and scored one run.
The Rockets, now 7-1, will travel to Caledonia to continue O-K Green conference play on Thursday.
“I thought everyone played a part in the win,” said R-P head coach Sarah Bayle. “The effort was great, and I think we finally kind of had a little breakthrough in just trusting each other. We kind of meshed and were a little more fluid tonight.”
R-P's Madison Reichert drops a bunt. Photo/Angela Rusnak