Hayes, Salem CC softball have another big day at the plate, slam season-high four homers, put up 18 runs, win 11th in a row; second game later ruled forfeit win for Oaks
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Salem CC softball coach Angel Rodriguez says shortstop Ella Hayes can play anywhere in the country. He just feels lucky she’s playing here.
Hayes, a freshman from Kansas City, had her eye on a couple East Coast Division I schools when she was being recruited out of high school and eventually chose the Mighty Oaks.
It couldn’t have worked out better for either party. Hayes is the hottest hitter on one of the hottest teams in the country. On Tuesday, she went 3-for-3 with a pair homers, a double, two intentional walks and five RBIs as the Oaks outscored Middlesex College 18-11 at Watson Field to extend their winning streak to 11 games.
“I’ll definitely be the first one to say it on our team, we couldn’t have ended up being luckier with a player,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of people as we get going always ask how’d you get this one, how’d you get that one and, truthfully, we’re honest, we’re up front and we’re here to give them the best experience they can get.
“She’s a good player. She’s a natural-born player. I would say we definitely got lucky. Whatever we did or whatever attracted her I hope she stays. I don’t know how in depth her recruiting was, but I know she liked the East Coast and maybe we’re just one of those schools that gave her shot. I think she can play anywhere in the country. Right now, we’re lucky enough that she’s playing for us.”
Hayes got into the recruiting process late in high school because at the time she didn’t think she was good enough to play at a program with pedigree. There was a Division II school close to home that was interested, but she wanted to play on the East Coast and turned it down. She was talking with Binghamton (N.Y.) and would like to go to Rutgers, but the JUCO route would help her development and now she’s Division I material.
Over the last week she’s been virtually unstoppable at the plate. She’s 13-for-16 with five homers and 18 RBIs during the Oaks’ current five-game home stand, raising her batting average to .571. She’s working on a seven-game hitting streak (16-of-24) and has driven in at least one run in 10 of the last 12 games she’s played.
“That’s my way to pick up my team since I can’t produce as much as I should at short, so I need to be better on offense,” Hayes said. “Going up to bat I tend to let everything go and I’m very confident up to bat and if I do end up getting out my team will pick me up. It’s just really easy to relax up at the plate.”
The offensive eruption has left the Oaks (13-4) with 147 runs in 17 games. They banged out 15 hits and a season-high four homers against the Colts. They scored in every inning but fifth and bounced back from that by putting the game away with six runs in the sixth.
When a team hits like that it can overcome – but not overlook – one of what Rodriguez called “those funky defensive games we’ve just gotta clean up” that led to eight errors that produced eight unearned runs.
Karyn Trice got it started with a leadoff inside-the-park homer and went 3-for-4 to raise her average to a team-leading (.588). Hayes hit a solo homer in the first and a grand slam in the second. Callie Rozak went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the third and four RBIs. The Oaks now have 14 homers this season, one more than they had in twice as many games a year ago.
Hayes credited the roll on the players picking each other up throughout the lineup throughout the game. It reminds her of the club team she played on the summer before her junior year in high school, which she called her favorite year of club ball.
“They keep getting it done,” Rodriguez said. “No matter what the situation is … they just keep making adjustments. The more they keep doing that and keep seeing the softball and make the adjustments that are necessary they’re going to keep rolling.
“As a coach we try not to do a lot with stats and I’m not a big stats guru. I do look at it, I think what we’re doing is great, but at some point you’ve got to take appreciation at what we’re doing and it is good to see. I try not to rely heavily on that because I want to see the consistency in everything, but, yeah, we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. What we’re doing, the numbers speak for themselves. We’re playing well.”
The Oaks have the potential for the winning streak to hit 12 in a row if Region XIX rules a forfeit in their favor since the Colts declined to play the second game of the scheduled doubleheader.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in college,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to qualify for one (a forfeit win). We’re gonna push for it, I think we deserve it, but ultimately the decision will come from the region and what they decide. We’ll see.”
UPDATE
On Thursday, Region XIX ruled the second game a 7-0 forfeit win for the Mighty Oaks, extending their winning streak to 12 in row.
‘I think the ruling is justified,’ Rodriguez said. ‘Game 2 should’ve been played from the beginning and I’m glad our team gets the credit they deserve; they were ready to go. All in all, it’s in the past and we’re gearing up for a doubleheader (at Sussex County CC) tomorrow.’
SALEM CC 18, MIDDLESEX 11
| Middlesex (3-2) | 042 | 211 | 0– | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| Salem CC (13-4) | 252 | 306 | x– | 18 | 15 | 8 |
Riverview Sports News 