High school softball: Black River beats Wellington 10-4 for sixth win in seven games

WELLINGTON — The Black River softball team stayed red hot Thursday with a 10-4 Lorain County League victory over Wellington. It was the sixth win in seven games for the Pirates (7-5, 4-1), who remained in the thick of the LCL race, one game behind Keystone (4-5, 4-0). The Wildcats beat Black River 11-2 in the teams' first meeting of the season Monday. That was the only loss in the past two weeks for the Pirates. "I think we're realizing what people's strengths are and where they lack a little bit," senior Mallory Eckert said. "We're building off that and where you have to pick it up here and there. We're getting to know each other more as we play and how we play." Eckert had three singles and reached on an error in her four at-bats, scoring three runs. She also had two RBIs and two stolen bases. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Dukes (3-6, 1-3). Wellington committed seven errors, leading to four unearned runs. Black River scored five of its runs with two outs. After getting out of the gates slowly the first time through the lineup, Madelyne Stief (2 singles, 2 runs, RBI) and Eckert hit back-to-back singles with one out in the visitors' half of the third inning. Mia Rosales then walked and Abbey Kiser smoked a two-run double to score Eckert and Emma Bright, running for Rosales, to finish off a three-run inning that gave the Pirates a 4-1 lead they never relinquished. "I think our timing improved," Kiser said of the second time through the lineup. "We made sure to get on top of the ball and make direct contact with it." Kiser had two doubles and three RBIs while also reaching on an error. The sophomore also earned the win, throwing four innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Rebekah Miller relieved Kiser and earned a save by allowing two earned runs on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Black River broke open the game in the fourth with three more runs, including an RBI double and run by Jenevieve Dieter. Stief, Eckert and Peyton Stewart singled in the inning. The Pirates' ability to relay what they were seeing from Wellington pitcher Mallory Pickering proved critical in the offensive outburst. "We tell each other what we're seeing and how we think we should fix it," Eckert said. "Whether it's moving up in the box, moving back or movement the pitcher is throwing, stuff like that, we talk about it and go from there." Trailing 7-1, Wellington's Courtney Krosse kicked off the bottom of the fourth with her first over-the-fence home run, a blast to center field. Wellington, which only had three hits, got its second home run of the game when Pickering launched one to left field. That was part of a two-run inning, as Kiera Philllips also scored on an error. Pickering walked her first two at-bats and flew out in the seventh. She also took the loss, throwing a complete game with five strikeouts, 12 hits and a walk to go with six earned runs. An error and a wild pitch led to another Black River run in the fifth, as Brooke Englehart scored. In the sixth, Eckert had an RBI single that scored Dieter and Kiser doubled home Eckert to close the scoring. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Black River 10, Wellington 4 BLACK RIVER 103 312 0 — 10 12 3 WELLINGTON 100 120 0 — 4 3 7 WP — Abbey Kiser (5-3) 4 innings, 2 runs, earned, 2 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts. LP — Mallory Pickering 7 innings, 6 earned runs, walk, 5 strikeouts. S — Rebekah Miller 3 innings, 2 earned runs, one hit, one walk, 2 strikeouts. Black River (7-5, 4-1) — Jenevieve Dieter double, 2 runs, RBI; Madelyne Stief 2 singles, 2 runs, RBI; Mallory Eckert 3 singles, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Abbey Kiser 2 doubles, 3 RBIs. Wellington (3-6, 1-3) — Pickering home run, 2 walks, 2 runs, RBI; Courtney Krosse home run, single, run, 2 RBIs.