Amherst Girls Softball
'AAA' Thunder's bats too much for Blue Claws

The "AAA" Thunder had their bats going against the Blue Claws, winning 12-4 on June 1.

RBI singles from Kelly Shantler, Allison Balk, and Emilee Foster in the first inning helped build a 5-3 lead. In the second, Emma Longo, Kaitlin Jacobbi, and Morgan Maley had nice singles. Hannah Stroud added one in the third.

In the fourth, Kim Brace lined a double into left field and Maley smashed a bases loaded shot into left that brought in two runs. Stroud added an RBI double in the fifth followed by a RBI singles from Sarah Block, Brace, and Maley.

Defensively, the Thunder shut down the Blue Claws after the first inning. Great pitching from Jacobbi, Foster (five strikeouts) and Maley helped keep most of the Claws off the base paths. When they did reach base, some great plays in the field kept them from mounting a comeback.

In the second inning, Longo, playing first base, made a great catch on a pop-up and Mia Martin did the same at third base. In the third, Balk, playing third base, stopped a hard hit ball and threw to Shantler at first for the first out. A heads-up play by Martin in the fifth helped secure the victory.

Playing right center field, Martin charged a ball that got through the infield and was able to throw to second base, forcing out the runner coming from first.