Pack nets hat trick
Published 5:14 pm Saturday, March 16, 2013
![Washington’s Haley Hutchins made her first start as a pitcher after having shoulder surgery and fanned three batters in three innings to pick up the win for the Pack. (WDN Photo/Brian Haines)](http://www.wdnweb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/03/WHS-SB-Hutchins-P-Jax-13-web.jpg)
Washington’s Haley Hutchins made her first start as a pitcher after having shoulder surgery and fanned three batters in three innings to pick up the win for the Pack. (WDN Photo/Brian Haines)
Playing in its third game in as many nights, the Pam Pack softball team showed no signs of fatigue as it battered Coastal Conference rival Jacksonville 10-0 in five innings for its third win of the week.
Sophomore pitcher Haley Hutchins, who is in the process of recovery from a torn labrum, started in the cirlce for the first time in her varsity career and looked solid as she struck out three batters and allowed one hit in three innings of work.
Hutchins was backed by a potent Pam Pack offense that racked up 10 runs on 11 hits to hand her the win.
“We got (Hutchins) in and she did an outstanding job for us,” Washington coach Doug Whitehead said.
Catching Hutchins was Allison Brantley, who was making her first start behind the plate and the sophomore looked like a veteran. Spelling starting catcher Kaylee Jackson, Brantley handled both Hutchins and Rebekah Langston well and made a nice catch along the backstop fence in the second inning.
“Kaylee Jackson has been catching the last two nights and we wanted to give her legs some relief,” Whitehead said. “Allie is a catcher by trade and so is Kaylee so it gives me some versatility where I can flip flop them.”
If the Washington players were tired from playing three games in a row their bats did not look it as they pounced on Cardinals pitcher Kate Reeves early.
Catie Dority and Hutchins led off the bottom of the first with back-to-back walks and both would cross home as Dority scored on a wild pitch and Hutchins was driven home on a Justyce McKissick double.
Adriana Tyson followed McKissick with an RBI double of her own and one batter later scored on a Kat Staton ground out to exit the first inning with a 4-0 lead.
Washington struck again in the third when Hutchins stole home on a wild pitch.
The Pam Pack (5-1, 2-0) broke the game open in the fourth when it rallied for four runs. With one out, pinch-hitter Anna Hardison singled home Jackson and then scored from first on a Catie Dority bloop base hit to go up 7-0. Washington would extend that lead as Langston singled her way on base before McKissick smashed her second double of the game to put the Pack ahead 9-0.
“Everybody’s hitting the ball well,” Whitehead said. “Justyce had two doubles that drove in runs and she’s going the opposite way which is a great thing.”
Langston, who pitched back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday, entered the game in the fourth in relief of Hutchins and fanned four in the final two innings.
Washington delivered the knockout blow in the fifth as Haley Wright and Staton hit consecutive singles before Jackson drove home the fatal 10th run.
Jacksonville 000 00 — 0 2 1
Washington 401 41 — 10 11 1
WP: Haley Hutchins; LP: Kate Reeves
Hitting: J — Abbie Wiggs 1-3, Tristen Torres 1-2; W — Catie Dority 1-2 (2B, RBI), Rebekah Langston 1-1, Justyce McKissick 2-3 (2 2B, 3 RBI), Adriana Tyson 1-2 (2B, RBI), Haley Wright 1-3, Kat Staton 1-3 (RBI), Kaylee Jackson 2-3 (2B, RBI), Anna Hardison 1-1 (RBI).