Salem CC softball scores second straight sweep, this time behind breakout day by Ella Hayes, heads into Southern swing 4-0
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — The first four hitters in the Salem CC softball lineup all have doubles Ls in their first name. As productive as they’ve been on the field, especially on this day, they’re the perfect combination to avoid doubles Ls in any doubleheader.
The First Four in the Mighty Oaks’ batting order Friday – Lilly Peverelle, Ella Hayes, Bella Rappa and Callie Rozak – were a combined 17-of-27 with 21 runs scored and 14 RBIs in a double run-rule sweep of Sussex County CC, 13-5 in six innings and 22-0 in five.
In last week’s season-opening sweep of Monroe Bronx, the four hit 3, 2, 5, 4 in the order and went 12-for-25 with nine runs and 11 RBIs. But against the Skylanders, Peverelle was penciled into the leadoff spot, Hayes stayed in the 2-hole, Rappa went third and Rozak hit cleanup.
“We kind of shifted a little bit to see what kind of spark we could get with this starting four lineup,” Salem coach Angel Rodriguez said. “Last week it was the bottom of our lineup that was finding ways on. Today, it was the top of the lineup doing what we were hoping they’d do.
“Hitting is contagious. They’re feeding off each other. They’re talking in between their at bats and it’s leading to their success right now. They had a very good day today.”
At the top of the list, but not the top of the lineup, was Hayes. The Skylanders, who were just getting outside for the first time season, simply couldn’t get her out.
The third-team JUCO All-American and reigning Region XIX Player of the Year, who incidentally wears a double number (11 – the same as her SCC baseball-playing boyfriend Chris Kelly), went 10-for-10 with six doubles, a grand slam, 19 total bases and 11 RBIs.
Hayes went 5-for-5 in each game with doubles in her first four at bats in the opener and the grand slam and eight RBIs in the nightcap. She also made a nice stop in the hole at short to start an inning-ending double play that killed a Skylanders threat in the nightcap.
“It felt great,” she said between games. “It definitely felt like a redemption from last game. I was just sick last game (and it) took a lot of energy from me, so today I brought extra energy since I lacked it last game.”
Going back to last week, the sophomore has reached base in her last 12 plate appearances (11-for-11 with a hit by pitch) and has failed to reach just three times in 20 PAs. She’s hitting .824 for the year (14-of-17) and definitely on pace for one of her goals — to hit .700 or better this season, which is certainly attainable if she meets another goal to be more aggressive at the plate and on the bases.
“She’s a ballplayer,” Rodriguez said. “She wasn’t named All-American and Player of the Year for no reason. She’s always looking to do the next best thing and the goals she sets she wants to go get them. I think today she found her groove. Picking up kind of where she left off last year with that game right there, so hopefully that continues to build for the remainder of the season.”
As for the others in the First Four …
Paverelle, who had the walk-off hit in the season-opening win, officially was 1-for-5 in the twinbill, but reached safely seven of nine times, scored seven runs and brought in three additional runs when the Skylanders misplayed balls she put in play. Rappa was 3-for-5 with a sacrifice and sac fly, four runs scored and reached base six times. Rozak was 3-for-7, on base five times and scored four runs. Even the Double-L who pinch-hit for Peverelle in the sixth inning of the nightcap, Polly Chavez, got a single.
“I don’t want to toot our own horn, but we’re very good,” Rappa said of the group. “We can see the ball very well, we can adjust really quickly and the communication is very good. They’re amazing. We get it going and the bottom keeps it rolling.”
After the year Hayes had last year there was some debate whether she would return to the Mighty Oaks for her sophomore year or opt for a bigger stage. Salem officials convinced her with another big year on the JUCO level she could command even more and better opportunities on the four-year market. Additionally, the new rule allowing JUCO players a fresh full eligibility slate at a four-year school made returning appealing.
The doubleheader itself followed almost the same script as last week’s sweep, except the Mighty Oaks didn’t have to win the first game in the bottom of the seventh. They did, however, have to come from behind after giving up three in the top of the first.
They took the lead with five in the second and continued to pour it on, walking it off on Rappa’s sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Then in the nightcap they scored nine in the first, highlighted by Hayes’ slam, and went for nine again in the third. They went on top last week with 11 in the first after walking off the opener.
Photo: The first four hitters in Salem CC’s softball lineup (L to R) Ella Hayes, Callie Rozak, Lilly Peverelle and Bella Rappa.
| GAME ONE | ||||
| Salem CC 15, Sussex 5 | ||||
| Sussex | 302 000- | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Salem | 254 002- | 13 | 12 | 3 |
| GAME TWO | ||||
| Salem CC 22, Sussex 0 | ||||
| Sussex (0-2) | 000 00- | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Salem (4-0) | 909 4x- | 22 | 17 | 0 |
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