Big innings lead Huron to SBC Bay win over PC

PORT CLINTON — Crooked numbers mean big things. Scoring anytime against a pitcher like Port Clinton's Ashton Sanchez was huge for Huron, but the Tigers made big innings turn into an impressive win. Huron scored at least two runs four times, topping the Redskins 15-2 in Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division action Monday. "We came to play today," Huron coach Jude Schmidt said. "We hit the ball well. We timed up the pitcher and they did their job." The Tigers (6-4, 1-0 SBC Bay) scored three runs in the third inning, five in the fourth, two in the fifth and five more in the seventh. It came after scoring 23 runs in a win over Firelands. "They're trusting themselves and adjusting to what we worked on all winter," Schmidt said. "They trust themselves and their adjustments. At the beginning of the year, it takes a little time." It didn't start out that way as Sanchez was on point early for PC (4-5, 1-2). She retired the first eight batters including five via the strikeout before the bottom of the Tigers' lineup got things going. That started with freshman Adelyn VanSickle in the No. 9 spot. She drew what looked like an innocent two-out walk and stole second before Lucy Hinners roped a RBI double to left. After Kaylee Albrycht walked and went to second, a two-run single by Alyssa Wild gave Huron a 3-1 lead. That set the Tigers' offense in motion. In the fourth, Allison Hillman was at first with one out when Madison Holeman walked. In a sign of things to come, Karissa Nethers reached on a Port Clinton error, allowing Hillman to score. A wild pitch then scored another run before VanSickle's RBI single extended the lead to 6-2. "The bottom did their job and rolled it around for the top," Schmidt said. "We've been waiting all year for that to happen. Adelyn did excellent. She's a hard out. Even with two strikes, she'll put it in play. When she gets on base, she's dangerous." Two more runs came in including a RBI double by Wild as Huron went up 8-2 after four innings. VanSickle added a RBI double herself in the fifth with the Tigers taking a 10-2 lead into the seventh innings. Huron's offense didn't slow down there. More errors in the field cost the Redskins before Hinners laced a two-run single and Rylie Dehn clocked a two-run triple. Port Clinton finished with six errors. "That's the gist of it," PC coach Ryan Wiechman said. "Ashton made pitches to get us out of innings, but we didn't make the plays. When she makes pitches and they hit them, we have to field them. We can't expect her to do everything." VanSickle went 3 for 3 at the plate. She also added four stolen bases while scoring three times. It was a tough bounce back for the Redskins after not playing for a week. "We talked a little bit about it, but we didn't put too much into it," Wiechman said. "Originally we were supposed to play last Tuesday, which still would've been six days off. I didn't really like it when I saw it on the schedule. I tried to find some games, but everybody was pretty much booked. It is hard." Sanchez struck out 10, laboring through 149 pitches. "You have to see her," Schmidt said. "She's a great pitcher. She's going to do those things. You have to see it and be confident in the adjustments you have to make. We made the adjustments we had to." The Redskins have had to alter their lineup due to typical sports stuff. That has forced younger players into the lineup and onto the field. Port Clinton hasn't adjusted yet, but with Sanchez in the circle, the Redskins will have a chance every time out. "It's a work in progress," Wiechman said. "We have a lot of freshmen starting. We've had some injuries and some girls move. The starting lineup I thought I had a week before the season started is not what I have now." Holeman gave up just four hits while striking out six. Cheyenne Whitaker and Olivia Emerson had RBI singles for PC while Sanchez ripped a run-scoring triple. "She stayed focused," said Schmidt of Holeman. "We've talked a lot about her staying focused and she's been working on that. Even when we got up a little bit, she came out focused. I wouldn't even say it was a bad pitch to Sanchez. She's just a good hitter." Huron 003 520 5 — 15 11 3Port Clinton 101 000 1 — 3 5 WP: Holeman. LP: Sanchez 2B: (H) Hinners, Wild, VanSickle, Dehn. 3B: (H) Dehn; (PC) Sanchez