Teams Struggle to Find Meaning in 14-2 Affair vs. Northbrook

In the first two innings, the Spartans rode a base-on-balls carousel to score 10 runs while making only one out and needing only one hit. Their solitary hit was provided by Laura De La Rosa, who drove a pitch into to center field. Meanwhile, the Raiders sent the minimum 6 batters to the plate. One reached first as a result of a walk, but as if her very presence on base offended Shayleigh Thomas, she promptly removed her on a pickoff throw to Allie Richardson. At the one-hour mark, a search for meaning revealed little.

The third and final inning created a moment or two, as Northbrook scored two runs on the strength of a pair of walks and an error. In the Stratford half, Thomas added a second hit for the Spartans with a line drive to left field. With the score 14-2, the umpires determined that time, if not purpose, had expired.

Existential Foe Faced Down in 9-4 Win Over Spring Woods

As the Stratford fans assembled in the sunshine beaming down upon the Spring Woods bleachers, nothing augured the terror that lay ahead. The game got off to a good start, with the Spartans opening up with a 5-run first inning. After leadoff walks by Sophie Donnel and Darcy Broaddus, Ava Esparza pounded a 1-2 pitch through the middle of the infield, driving in Broaddus (Donnel having already found her way home on a passed ball). Walks were then issued to Keely Meeks, Emma Adisa, Mariah Estrada, Dulce Soto, and Sophie Donnel (her second free pass of the inning), which brought home the full complement of allowable runs.

The score was 5-3 and Stratford was coming in to bat. Broaddus and Esparza earned walks. After each of them advanced on a stolen base, Adisa put a ball in play back to the pitcher to drive in Broaddus. Esparza also scored following the throw to first. Another series of walks followed, to Estrada, Soto, and Mia Hutchison. Allie Richardson hit a ball hard to the shortstop, a challenge to which the shortstop failed to rise. Her throw to first was in error, which allowed Estrada and Soto to score. The Spartans could not generate a 5th run, however, and took the field to protect a 9-3 lead.

Spring Woods managed to score one more run, but Stratford  prevailed 9-4. The Spartans finished the week with a 4-1 record on the season. They will return to action on March 21 at home against Cy-Ridge. We shall report.