Troy shutout over Bonners, 25-0

The Troy High School softball season kicked off their season at home Thursday with a 25-0 shutout against Bonners Ferry. The game, originally scheduled to be played in Bonners Ferry, was moved due to field conditions.

Troy junior Mazzy Hermes pitched the winning game, and Troy Head Coach Keith Haggerty said she is already pitching better than she had at the end of last season.

“Mazzy just pitched the best I’ve ever seen her pitch. She really just did a phenomenal job,” Haggerty said.

Haggerty said that Hermes has put in a lot of work in preparation for this season, but also has gained a lot of confidence on the mound.

That confidence is something that the entire team has been working on, and it shows, he said.

“It’s giving them the reps and the proper practice and everything, but it’s also telling kids, ‘You know, you can do this,’” Haggerty said. “I mean, you absolutely can do this. If you pay attention and work a little harder, you have it in you.”

The Trojans saw what they were capable of as they progressed through last season, and that encouraged them, he said.

“They believe in themselves now, and their together as a team, and they feel they can do quite a bit,” Haggerty said.

After Hermes ended the top of the first with no hits for the Badgers, Troy sophomore Talise Becquart sent the two first runners in ahead of her with a homer in the bottom of the inning.

Becquart would go on to hit for the cycle, racking up a triple, double and single by the end of the game.

The Trojans loaded the bases up again in short order, and scored seven more runs before the fly out to center field by senior Tristyn Winebark ended the inning.

Becquart also had a good game at shortstop.

Haggerty said she had a couple good plays on balls that were going up the middle.

That was a weak area for the Trojans last season defensively, he said. “Whenever the ball was hit up the middle, it was a guaranteed hit.”

But twice, just as Haggerty said he thought the ball was going to make it through, Becquart stepped in, scooped it up, and made the play to get the out at first.

By the end of the third inning, the Trojans led 18-0 after Becquart hit her single that brought in freshman Emma Anderson.

As the game moved into the fourth inning, the Badgers got three runners on base with walks from Hermes, but she followed up with two strikeouts to bring the Trojans back to bat.

The fourth inning saw Bonners’ game fall apart as the remaining seven Troy runs were scored off of walks.

Yet, while Haggerty said that Bonners’ pitching wasn’t as strong as it has been in the past, there was no doubt about how well the Trojans performed Thursday.

The team has been working on patience at bat — not swinging at balls and waiting for their pitch, he said.

“A lot of them took that step, and they were patient at the plate and didn’t chase a lot of bad pitches,” he said.

“I hope it just keeps progressing like this, and keeps getting better,” Haggerty said.

The Trojans face experienced competition this year, Haggerty said. Many of their opponents will be bringing back strong pitchers who gave the Trojans difficulties last season.

Yet, the Troy players were not just making contact with the ball Thursday, but getting the hits they need.

“We keep preaching to them, all we have to do is make all the routine plays, make the plays that you’re supposed to make. And then be smart at the plate and hit the strikes — don’t chase the balls — and understand the count and the situation. So, just play normal, smart ball,” Haggerty said. “And they did everything.”

Thursday, March 28

Troy 25, Bonners Ferry 0

B 000 00 - R:0 H:2 E:2

T (10)53 7X - R:25 H:16 E:0

T: Kaylee Tunison 3-1, 4 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB; Izzy Ramirez 3-3, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB; Talise Becquart 5-4, 3 R, 7 RBI; Montana Rice 3-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB; Tristyn Winebark 4-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Mazzy Hermes 1-1, 1 R, 1 RBI, 4 BB; Paige Chapel 2-1, 3 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB; Emma Anderson 2-0, 1 R, 1 BB, 1SO; Kyran Kelso 3-2, 2 R, 6 RBI; Emily Ramirez 2 R; Adeline Roesler-Begalke 1 R.

B: S Blevins 3-0, 1K; P Schulte 3-0, 3K; R Cowin 2-0, 2K; L Merritt 2-1; M Falck 1-0, 1BB; G Freeman 2-0, 2K; J Regehr 1-0, 1BB, 1K; S Jackson 1-1; R Owens 1-0.

Batting: 2B - Rice, Becquart; 3B - Becquart; HR - Becquart; TB - Becquart 11, Chapel, Hermes, Ramirez 3, Rice 3, Tunison, Winebark 2, Kelso 2; Merritt, Jackson; ROE - Tunison, Kelso; SB - Chapel, Ramirez, Rice, Tunison 3; Burt.

Pitching: W - Hermes 5, 83 P, .639 S%, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 9 SO, 4 BB; L - Schulte 3.1, 101 P, .426 S%, 15 H, 18 R, 13 ER, 1 SO, 8 BB, 1 HR