While a normal high school softball game is supposed to last seven innings, the Pam Pack are making a habit of shortening contests. On Friday, the team continued that trend, knocking off its second-straight conference opponent by a score of 15-0 by activating the mercy rule.

“We’ve been in a good conference for softball for the last eight years,” said head coach Doug Whitehead, referring this off-season’s conference realignment. “These girls play a lot of travel ball. They do it year round and honestly, sometimes you come out here and you don’t have to do much coaching at all.”

The switch to a softball-friendly conference, along with the team’s chemistry and senior leadership, has provided the Pam Pack the opportunity at a historic 2014 campaign.

Against Farmville Central, Washington’s explosive offense was ignited early in the first. Sophomore Chrissy McKissick led off with a bunt single and two batters later, junior Adriana Tyson followed with a base knock of her own. That set the stage for junior Haley Wright, who rocketed a double to the gap in right-center, plating both McKissick and Tyson for the first runs of the game. After junior Allison Brantley reached on an error, freshman standout Haley Harris added two RBI to her season total with a double to left field.

The four-run lead gave starter Haley Hutchens a comfortable lead to work with. The junior hurler retired the first three Jaguars of the game, and followed suit in the second by retiring all three batters she faced, two via the strikeout.

Confident and composed, the Pack stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the second and continued their offensive barrage, chalking up another four runs on three hits, including a triple to right field from Brantley.

Effortlessly, Hutchens toed the hill in the third and retired the side, once again.

Washington owned a commanding 8-0 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning, but they weren’t finished. The Pam Pack, for the second-straight game, were looking to make a statement.

After freshman Jada Lodge and Style McKissick both reached, Chrissy brought them both home with a looping single to right field. Hutchens followed with a double to left-center.

The Pack kept hitting and when the score finally reached 15-0, the umpire waved his hands and collected the easiest paycheck of the season. Hutchens finished with a shortened no hitter.

“She’s been very consistent,” Whitehead said. “She’s got all of our wins and thrown all innings but two this year. Early on, she had a little trouble walking batters, throwing a lot of pitches, but now she’s really concentrating and getting ahead of batters. She’s doing a sensational job.”

Tyson and Jackson both finished 3-for-3 at the dish.

With the win, the Pam Pack improve to a record of 5-0 (2-0 Eastern Plains).

“We came out here and hit the ball well,” Whitehead said. “We’re normally solid on defense. We’re getting ready to have a test this coming week.”

Washington will face its toughest matchup yet on Tuesday when the Pam Pack play host to Beddingfield.