(Kearny, AZ) Coming off a stellar week where Benson senior Katie Sherman threw two consecutive perfect games and had plenty of offense to boot, the Bobcats went on the road to face the Ray High Bearcats.
Emily Darwin started things out with a hot shot to the shortstop and beat it out for a single. After getting runners on second and third, Bearcats pitcher Hinojos got out of the inning unscathed.
Katie Sherman/photo by Kaptured Smiles Photography
Sherman actually struck out three batters, but a dropped third strike put a Ray runner at first base. That’s as far as she would get as a ground out and two more Sherman “K’s” ended the first inning.
Benson went quickly in the top half of the second as did Ray with Sherman striking out the side.
The Bobcats broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning as Mikayla Wales started off with a well placed bunt to the third base side for an infield single. Emily Darwin who crushed the ball last week singled to left field. Jamie Barney attempted to move the runners up but an error by the Bearcats catcher Lorona loaded the bases. Next up was Sherman who calmly stroked a line drive to center field and two RBI scoring Wales and Darwin. Sherman also advanced to second on the throw home with Barney sitting now at third base.
Abby Workman/Photo by Kaptured Smiles Photography
Abby Workman collected a hit off a fly ball that Sherman had to wait on to run, but advanced to third as Barney brought home the third run. Letty Lopez sacrificed Sherman home and the Bobcats had run number four in the inning. Aly Fenn got the fifth and final run of the frame by shooting a lazy fly ball single to right that brought in Workman. Five runs were much more than Sherman would need today.
The Ray half of the third was quick and decisive and Sherman added to her strikeout total getting two more Bearcats.
The Bobcats wanted to keep the pressure on and keep their foot on the Bearcat’s neck. Darwin started out the fourth inning by reaching base on a Ray error and actually took second base on the same error. Barney legs out a grounder to the shortstop putting runners at the corners with no outs. Darwin then scores on a fielders choice on Sherman’s ground out. Heads up base running by Barney saw her take third base. Workman lifted a fly ball to center to bring in Barney for Benson’s seventh run.
Photo by Kaptured Smiles Photography
One of the best characteristics of this 2019 Bobcat team is they don’t ever relax even when Sherman has her “A game” going. Many teams would let up after scoring a few runs knowing it would most likely be enough for the win. Head Coach Brittney Batten has her athletes play every inning like it’s 0-0. The best way to save your pitcher’s arm is to run rule the opponent and save an inning of work.
The Bearcats once again went down in order having no answer for Sherman’s array of pitches.
Batten’s Cats play great fundamental ball and it showed again as Taylor Fenn led off with a sharp single to left and was doubled home two batter later by Darwin and the eighth run of the game.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Sherman cruised along effortlessly punching out two more Ray batters on strikes.
Sherman had a great game at the plate as well as she led off the sixth with a fly ball triple out of the reach of the Bearcat centerfielder. Workman kept the party going by doubling back to center field allowing Sherman to walk home.
Fenn reached base on a dropped pop up to the shortstop. Workman had to hold at third. Kayla Sherman bunted her way on to load the bases. Taylor Fen stroked a hard single to left scoring Workman and sister Aly for two RBI. Wales followed with another strong single to left for another two runs.
Being down 13-0, the Bearcats tried but couldn’t get any sustained offense going and the game was over on a run rule victory for Benson.
Darwin and Katie Sherman both had three hits. She and her battery mate Workman had three RBI. The big stat in the blowout win was the thirteen strikeouts and the masterful performance that has become the “norm” for the senior pitcher.
Benson has scored 125 runs since their last loss to Bradshaw Mountain back on March 16th. The opposition has scored 8 runs.
As long as the bats stay hot, the pitching is on point, these Cats will be a very tough opponent the rest of the season and into the state playoffs.
Photos courtesy of Kirsten Smith of Kaptured Smiles Photography.
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