Polar Bears run-rule Edison in Bay opener

CASTALIA — Not much went wrong for the Margaretta softball team Monday. With Edison starting pitcher Abby Cloud out of the lineup, the Polar Bears took advantage. Margaretta pounded out 10 hits, including four extra-base pokes, and topped the Chargers 11-1 in five innings in Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division action at Lions Park. "We've had a good offseason with the girls," Polar Bears coach Mike Williamson said. "Discipline has been one of the things we've been trying to focus on. I think that showed a lot in the box." Edison coach Jason Caponi said Cloud was sick and refused further comment after the game. After Cassidy Lane retired the Chargers in the first inning, she got plenty of offensive support. Edison sophomore pitcher Jordyn Perry struggled with command as Ellianna Young, Lucy Edwards and Lane walked. Brooke Hastings then hit a ball to first, but the throw to home was dropped, allowing a run to score. Kenadee Lesch then singled into right field. The throw home was offline, bringing in a second run. The ball trickled into the dugout for a third run on the play, getting Lesch to third. Isla Palomo then singled to score Lesch, making it 5-0 in the blink of an eye. "We stayed aggressive," Williamson said. "We try to win every inning and that's what we tried to do today. I think the girls did a good job of that. We had good at-bats. I thought they were patient and disciplined. Everybody on the bench was into it." Edison scored its lone run in the second inning. Lariah McMinn walked, went from first to third on a sacrifice bunt by Macari Harris and scored on a wild pitch. Margaretta (5-1, 1-0 SBC Bay) responded in the bottom half. Edwards doubled before Lane singled. A walk to Hastings loaded the bases. The Bears got a run in on a fielder's choice hit by Lesch. Later, Tessa Lane helped out her big sister with an RBI single to increase the lead to 7-1. As Cassidy Lane churned through innings in the circle, the Margareta offense kept scoring. It added four more runs in the third inning, three of them on a big three-run home run by Hastings. Edwards doubled and Cassidy Lane walked before Hastings' blast to center. "I told her I wanted her to go middle," Williamson said. "I didn't think it was going to go over the fence. But as soon as she hit it, it was obvious it was out of here." Cassidy Lane finished the deal in the circle. After giving up a leadoff double to Peyton Bissell in the fourth inning, she retired the final six batters. The senior missed most of last season with injuries, but has come back in full force this year. "It's good to have her healthy and back this year," Williamson said. "We're healthier this year. She's a great teammate and a hard, hard worker." Cassidy Lane struck out six in her complete game effort in the circle. The Bears have four more games scheduled this week. Winning via run-rule was important, Williamson said. "That was huge because we have games the rest of the week," Williamson said. "Cassidy threw minimal, so that was big for us." Edison (2-2, 0-1) is scheduled to be back in action Friday against Seneca East before a doubleheader Saturday against St. Paul and Perkins. "We scheduled extremely hard for preseason in our scrimmages and we have a tough schedule to push us," Williamson said. "We're not going to get any better playing teams that aren't the caliber of Oak Harbor, Calvert or a Monroeville that's been to state the last two years. "We have teams on the schedule going to regional finals. That's what we want." Edison 010 00 — 1 3 2 Margaretta 524 0x — 11 10 0 WP: Lane. LP: Perry 2B: (E) Bissell; (M) Edwards 2, Lesch. HR: (M) Hastings