Jones, Summers lead Sandusky past Perkins

SANDUSKY — Akiyla Jones is fast. Really fast. But in order to put her speed to use, the No. 2 hitter in the Sandusky softball lineup had to hit the ball. Twice Jones found the right spot in the Perkins defense, racing around the bases for inside-the-park home runs. That fueled the Blue Streaks' offense in a 14-0 drubbing of the Pirates in Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division action Friday at Sports Force Parks. "I wanted to keep track of the ball and see where it was at," said Jones of her home runs. "I was making sure I was listening to my coaches to make sure I was making the right play." Jones' poke down the left field line turned into a two-run home run in the first inning. With the bases loaded in the second inning, she found the left-center gap. She raced around for a grand slam, her third home run of the season and seventh in the last two years. "When I talked about her, I said she was going to be a threat," Sandusky coach Phil Jones said. "She can lay the bunt down and she has enough speed to get around those bases really fast. That definitely puts the pressure on the defense when she hits the ball." Sandusky (2-4, 1-1 SBC Lake) was unbelievably patient in the first inning as Perkins' Maycee Bohn struggled with her command. Amari Prentice led off with a single before Jones walked. Wild pitches aided the Blue Streaks runners around the bases. Both runners scored as Izabell Sartor and Kaylee Summers drew walks. Savannah Palmer and Alia Prentice also walked. Wild pitches brought in runs at a lightning pace before Makayla Popke walked. It was 7-0 when Bohn exited after 42 pitches, struggling to find the strike zone on a cold, rainy day. Perkins coach Scott Dickman wasn't sure what the issue was. "We haven't talked about it yet," he said. "Give credit to Sandusky. They came out and gave it to us. They hit the ball. Everything they hit was on the nose." KK Miller came on in relief for the Pirates (4-3, 1-1). After Leila Nestor walked, Camille Shephard lined a single. Perkins turned a double play, but Jones' shot down the left-field line reached the fence. She rounded the bases and slid in safely for a 9-0 Sandusky lead. "We've been playing well up until this point," Dickman said. "We were 4-2 coming into today. It just wasn't our day." That came after Summers escaped trouble in the top half of the inning. Allie Brunner singled, but was thrown out trying to steal second with Maddie Rinkes at the plate. Rinkes walked, Aubrey Ransom singled and Hannah Koelsch walked for an immediate opportunity. Summers responded with consecutive strikeouts to avoid damage. "I think I do better under pressure," Summers said. "That's where I really strive at. I want to be there for my team. In that situation, I didn't want to let a run score." Koelsch would be the last Perkins player to reach base as Summers caught fire. She retired the final 14 batters of the game, including eight via strikeout. After laboring through 35 pitches in the first inning, she needed just 42 pitches the final four. "We've been really working on spots and location with Kaylee," coach Jones said. "That's what we're asking her to do because we want more out of her. She did a good job really locating the ball. We talk to her that if something isn't working, don't throw it. Find something that is working. "I think she had her whole arsenal today." Summers got even more support from her offense in the second inning. Alia Prentice singled, Popke reached on an error and Nestor walked. A fielder's choice got Perkins the second out of the inning, but Amari Prentice drew a bases-loaded walk. Jones' rocket to the fence emptied the bases, pushing Sandusky up 14-0 after two innings. The Blue Streaks drew 10 walks with eight of their nine starters walking at least once. "We've been anxious to hit the ball because we've been struggling to hit something," coach Jones said. "I told them they had to be disciplined and patient at the plate. We wanted to be disciplined and find something to drive and hit. It was a good day at the plate." Sandusky played flawless defense, committing no errors on the day. Alia Prentice made the play of the day, diving to her left to stop a scorcher off the bat of Bohn in the fifth inning. She got up to her knees and fired to first for the out. "She dove and made that great play," Dickman said. "That's when you know it's not your day. Tomorrow is another day." The Pirates will get little time to figure things out. They face Edison and St. Paul in a doubleheader Saturday at Edison High School. Dickman liked what he got from Miller, who allowed just two earned runs in four innings of work. "KK is a freshman and we're excited to have her," he said. "She's super athletic and learning how to pitch. She will be a great pitcher and she will help us." Sandusky is also back in action Saturday, facing St. Mary Central Catholic. The Blue Streaks lost to Norwalk in nine innings Wednesday. Earlier this season, they took defending River Division champion New Riegel to the limit before losing late. "That was a really good win for us after the close games we've been going through," coach Jones said. "As long as we get outside and get warmed up, I think the team does pretty well. I think we have to get better with the bats. The defense has been really awesome." Perkins 000 00 — 0 1 3 Sandusky 950 0x — 14 7 0 WP: Summers. LP: Bohn. HR: (S) Jones 2