Dalton softball: Lady Dawgs streak to 7-0
PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
Dalton’s varsity high school softball team celebrates a 5-1 win against Waynedale on the road. After a week of success, the Lady Dawgs were undefeated at 7-0.
Dalton’s Joey Reynolds makes a play at home base during the game against Waynedale.
By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer
Dalton High School’s varsity softball team collected wins against Waynedale, Fairless and Orrville to continue their undefeated start to the season and improve their overall record to 7-0.
Fans may notice members of Dalton’s staff wearing shirts with the phrase “Get your name in the paper” printed across the back. Dalton’s head coach Zach McFarren explained the meaning behind the motto that goes beyond journalistic recognition for team’s accomplishments.
“‘Get your name in the paper’ is something I came up with to get the girls to believe in their abilities,” McFarren said. “We want to be selfish in the aspect that we take advantage of every opportunity given. If we can succeed in a way that gets us press, good, but we want to believe in the process and we want to know that we are allowed to be great.”
Dalton started the week with a 6-0 shutout over Waynedale at home April 3. In the second inning, Lexi Vazquez singled and then came home on a triple from Savannah Wenger. Wenger scored another run when she stole home. Lauren Falb led off the third inning with a double. Joey Reynolds later plated Falb with a single. Callie Jones hit an RBI-single to score Joey Reynolds.
The Lady Dawgs added another run in the fourth inning. Vazquez had an RBI-double in the fifth inning to finish off the win. Ava Fivecoat gave up five hits and recorded seven strikeouts.
The Lady Dawgs continued to have success against Waynedale with a 5-1 road win April 4. Joey Reynolds doubled with two outs in the top of the first inning and Vazquez singled her in for the first run of the game. Dalton did not hold the lead for long because Waynedale tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Both teams remained scoreless for several innings until Dalton broke the tie in the fifth inning on a Jones RBI-single. Dalton added two more runs in the sixth inning and one more in the seventh. Fivecoat gave up one hit on three runs, issued two walks and struck out four hitters.
Dalton’s offense exploded in their 14-2 road win over Fairless April 7. The Lady Dawgs capitalized on some errors in the first inning to get four runs on the board. Dalton had a 6-run third inning, which was highlighted by a 2-run single from Skylar McConnel and an RBI-double by Josslyn Reynolds. The Falcons scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Dalton capped off the win with four runs in the fourth inning. Fivecoat gave up two runs on three hits and recorded two walks. She also struck out seven batters.
The Lady Dawgs faced Orrville in a doubleheader April 8 at home. Dalton won the first game 6-1. Orrville took an early lead when they scored one run in the first inning. However, that would be the only time the Riders crossed the plate. Dalton scored two runs in the second inning to take the lead. The Lady Dawgs were strategic in the fifth inning to add three runs and they scored one more in the sixth. Fivecoat recorded one run on four hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Dalton shut out Orrville 10-0 in the second game of the doubleheader. Joey Reynolds doubled and then scored on an error in the first inning for the Lady Dawgs’ first run. Dalton sent two runners home in the second and four more in the third inning. They collected one run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to finish the game. Fivecoat gave up two hits and struck out 11 batters.
“We had a successful week,” McFarren said. “Our bats are warm and are producing at the right times. We understand our schedule and we are winning the games we should. Our goal is to improve each game.”
