BUTLER EARNS FIRST VARSITY WIN; ATHENS BLANKS TROY, 13-

By: Tim Birney  /  March 30, 2021  /  Photo: Chris Manning

EAST TROY — Sophomore Aliyah Butler earned her first varsity win in her first varsity start, pitching a two-hitter to lead Athens to a 13-0 win over Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL Large School softball action.

“Tonight was all about Aliyah (Butler),” said Athens coach Mickey Farrell. “She was impressive in her first varsity start.”

Butler struck out seven and walked one, while allowing just a pair of singles.

“(Catcher) Harley (Sullivan) called a really good game,” said Farrell. “She had (Butler) moving the ball all over the place.”

The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Audrey Hatch drove in the first run with an RBI single, Addy Repsher added an RBI single, and Ashlyn VanFleet knocked home a run with an RBI groundout.

Athens put the game away with six runs in the top of the second to take a 9-0 lead.

Caydence Macik and VanFleet collected RBIs with bases-loaded walks to extend the lead to 5-0.

Butler helped her own cause with a three-run double, and scored moments later on an RBI single by Mallory Mummert.

Athens played a bit of long ball in the fifth inning. Mummert led off the frame with a home run, and Hatch capped the rally with a three-run shot to make it 13-0.

“We hit the ball hard today,” said Farrell. “We hit two home runs again … Mallory Mummert crushed one, (Audrey) Hatch hit her second one, and Aliyah helped her own cause with a bases-loaded double.

“We left 12 runners on base (at Canton), but that wasn’t the case tonight,” noted Farrell. “We only left three runners on base, so we did a much better job.

“All week, we stressed putting the ball in play, and making the defense work,” he added. “Tonight, it worked.”

Hatch led Athens at the plate with a home run, a double, three runs scored, and four RBI, while Mummert homered and singled, scored one run, and drove in two runs, and Butler doubled, scored one run, and had three RBI.

Harley Sullivan singled and scored three runs in the win, while Megan Collins singled twice and scored one run, Macie Coyle singled and scored one run, Repsher singled and drove in one run, VanFleet had two RBI and one run scored, and Macik crossed the plate twice.

The Lady Wildcats, who entered the season with very little experience, are off to a 2-0 start.

“As a coaching staff, we’re thrilled to be 2-0, but we know we still have a lot of work to do,” said Farrell.

Athens returns to action Monday at Cowanesque Valley in a game that was originally scheduled for Thursday.