From staff reports
MOUNT ULLA – West Rowan softball coach Jimmy Greene didn’t sleep much after an ugly 12-1, six-inning loss to Cannon School on Wednesday.
The Falcons haven’t gotten mercy-ruled very often during his coaching tenure, but they earned this one, striking out eight times, making five errors and getting only three hits.
West (5-5, 5-0) got things turned around some on Thursday with a 5-3 win against Northwest Cabarrus (3-5, 1-4) that they needed to stay in the South Piedmont Conference race.
“We’re going to have some games where we don’t hit and we may have some games where we don’t pitch great, but we absolutely can’t have bad defensive games,” Greene said. “We bounced back with one of our best defensive games on Thursday. Our third baseman (Ava Baxter) made some great plays, including catching a line drive and doubling a runner off third.”
West didn’t hit much and got all five runs in one inning.
“We got on base, got some bunts down, played small ball, moved the runners around, created some chaos for their defense, which is something we like to do,” Greene said. “Ava got on base to get the big inning started. Their pitcher was tough. Sometimes walks hurt her, but this was the best I’ve ever seen her pitch.”
Emma Smith had two hits for the Falcons.
Reese Poole had a good game in the circle. The junior always has been able to hit and field, but the Falcons have needed her to pitch quite a bit this season, after she’s been away from the circle since middle school.
“Reese is throwing more strikes and she’s starting to spin it more,” Greene said. “You’ve got to be able to spin it against the really good hitters.”
The Falcons will see some really good hitters on Friday, including the scorching hot Cressley Patterson, when they tangle with South Rowan. Both teams are undefeated in the SPC.
