North outslugs Cape 10-0
Despite some sparkling defensive plays, including two by freshman centerfielder Amanda Kopale, the Cape Coral Seahawks were unable to contain the North Fort Myers Red Knights in a high school softball game Thursday.
Senior Mariah Fernandez supplied the big hit for North – an inside-the-park home run in the third inning – but it was mostly the Red Knights’ ability to string together base hits and manufacture runs that led to a 10-0 triumph over the Seahawks.
The undefeated Red Knights also got another strong start from junior pitcher Jackie Owen, who tossed five scoreless innings and struck out nine. Freshman Darienne Boyden worked two scoreless innings in relief to complete the shutout.
“Cape Coral is much improved, they’re a team to be reckoned with,” North coach Jeff Miner said. “I told our girls, ‘Do not let down because they can beat you.'”
The Red Knights (4-0) have faced a difficult early-season schedule, which already has produced victories over Bishop Verot and Barron Collier. They play at Verot Friday before another big game against Ida Baker Monday.
North set the tone quickly against Cape (0-2), taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
After a leadoff single by Kayla Ramey, Lexi Schlotter drove in the first run with a sharp single to right. Katrissa Rowell capped the inning with a two-run single.
The Red Knights went up 6-0 in the third. Fernandez led off with a line drive to the gap in right-center, and raced around for the home run.
They used their speed to score the other two runs with Rowell and Allison Kennedy scoring on a wild pitch.
Ramey and Kennedy each had three hits for the Red Knights. Fernandez, Owen, Lexi Schlotter and Alyssa Dougherty had two hits apiece.
Though the Seahawks fell behind, they remained sound defensively, and at times, dazzling.
In the fifth, Kopale made a diving catch, running in on a ball hit sharply by Rowell. Kopale caught another fly ball off the bat of Rowell in the sixth, and threw out a runner at the plate.
Cape junior Tara Higgins also played a strong defensive game at third base.
“We had some good defensive innings, but we missed out on some key plays to keep us in the game,” Seahawks first-year coach Amy Petruska said.
Offensively, the Seahawks struggled against Owen. Higgins and Cassie Maselter accounted for two hits through five innings.
In the sixth, Marissa Maikowski led off with a drive to the gap in right-center and nearly had the second inside-the-park home run of the game, but Fernandez made a good relay throw to get Maikowski sliding into the plate.
The Seahawks threatened again in the seventh. Shannon McBride reached on an error and Amanda Hurley singled, but Boyden managed to get out of the inning without allowing any runs.
The teams play again Tuesday at North. Cape is back in action Friday at Lehigh.
North Ft. Myers 303 003 1 – 10 17 1
Cape Coral 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
W – Owen L – Harkins
3B – Maikowski (C). HR – Fernandez (N).