Chesapeake College extends impressive streaks
BEL AIR – Chesapeake College extended a trio of impressive women's softball streaks Wednesday afternoon in sweeping host Harford Community College, 17-0 and 8-0.
The Skipjacks (20-3 overall, 10-0 league) have now won 17 straight games, including four consecutive shutouts. Chesapeake also stretched its run of consecutive, 20-win seasons to eight as a result of Wednesday's sweep.
Rachael Milligan (11 strikeouts, three walks) and Chloe Day (13 strikeouts, no walks) threw three-hit shutouts in the opener and nightcap, respectively. Milligan only had to pitch five innings in Game 1, thanks to a 17-hit offensive attack that invoked the league mercy rule, while Day threw seven innings in Game 2.
"Needless to say, the pitchers are throwing the heck out of the ball," said Chesapeake head coach Durrie Hayes. "They're just locating the ball so well – throwing inside and outside, throwing different pitches."
Chesapeake scored seven runs in the first two innings of the opener to take control. Caroline Clarry (three RBI) had a two-run single as part of a three-run first and Kristina Shank cranked a two-run double as part of a four-run second inning.
"We were hitting up and down the lineup, particularly the first game," said Hayes. "They just had a good time today."
Shank (2-for-5, two runs, five RBI) also had a two-run single as part of a nine-run fifth that broke the game open.
"She's crushing the ball," Hayes said of Shank. "She was just hitting line drive after line drive."
Courtney Stubbs (three runs) went 4-for-4 while Abby Nelson (four runs, two RBI) was 3-for-4 for the Skipjacks.
"Those balls were hit hard, all four of them," Hayes said of Stubbs, who was just recently added to Chesapeake's injury-depleted roster.
Savannah Miller (two runs, two RBI), Brittney Platt (run, RBI) and Day (two runs) each added two hits.
Shank (3-for-5) had a run-scoring single in the first to provide the only run the Skipjacks needed in the nightcap. Nelson (hit, two runs, RBI) drove in a run with a grounder and scored on a double by Miller (2-for-4, run, RBI) as part of a two-run third that stretched Chesapeake's lead to 3-0.
Kristen Catlin (2-for-4, run) had a two-run single as part of a four-run fifth that broke the game open. Day and Cat Ramagnano each added two hits as part of Chesapeake's 14-hit attack.
Chesapeake, which has played in six of the last seven Region XX title games, has been one of the most consistent teams in the state and region over the last eight years. Prior to Hayes' arrival in 2008, the Skipjacks had one 20-win season in the history of softball at Chesapeake.
"The program, if it's working the way it's supposed to work, should perpetuate itself," said Hayes. "You just build on what you've got. Your sophomores help your freshmen and then they become your sophomores. It allows your coaching staff to work on some more advanced stuff."
Defending conference champion Harford fell to 8-22 overall and 2-12 in the conference.
Chesapeake plays Rowan College in a 3 p.m. Friday doubleheader at Burlington (N.J.) County College. The Skipjacks host Allegany College of Maryland Saturday in a noon conference doubleheader.