BRINGIN’ THE HEAT: Red-hot Salem sweeps DH from Canton
Junior Shannon McAuliffe struck out 13 in Salem’s 10-3 game one victory over Canton Wednesday afternoon.
On the first afternoon in recent memory that didn’t require spectators to wear thermal-lined parkas, Salem’s girls softball team brought its own brand of heat against Canton Wednesday afternoon.
Fueled by sizzling efforts from junior pitcher Shannon McAuliffe and several positional players, the Rocks swept the Cobras, 10-3 and 10-1, in a twinbill played in abundant sunshine and temps in the — gasp! — high-50s.
Salem improved to 2-3-1 in the KLAA West Division (according to klaaconferencesports.org) while Canton slipped to 1-3 in the division.
McAuliffe, who has committed to play college softball for Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida, did a nice Tarik Skubal impression, striking out 13 Cobras with an array of strike-zone pounding fastballs and off-speed pitches.
Moore was solid
Canton starting pitcher Samantha Moore pitched better than the final score would indicated. Moore scattered four runs through six of the innings she pitched, but was haunted by the Rocks’ six-run fifth inning during which 12 batters stepped to the plate.
Salem lead-off hitter Taylor Bond was a thorn in Canton’s side all afternoon, reaching base five times and scoring twice. Bond also played a flawless Game 1 at shortstop.
The Rocks struck first to seize a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Bond walked, stole second and scored on a double by McAuliffe, Salem’s clean-up hitter.
Undaunted, Canton responded by deadlocking the game at 1-1 in its half of the first when Sydney Felkins walked, stole second and ultimately scored on a wild pitch.
Salem grabbed the lead for good in the third frame on RBI singles by McAuliffe and Charlie Lindstrom.
Taking the fifth
Among the contributors to Salem’s big fifth inning were Sydney Holcombe, Theresa DiStefano and Joslyn Dawley, all of whom had RBI knocks.
Mikayla Roberts’ RBI single accounted for the winners’ final run in the top of the seventh.
Felkins completed her strong showing by adding an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
Dawley was the Rocks’ star in the second game, knocking in four runs — three on a bases-loaded double.
The future is bright for the Rocks, who start five freshmen.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
