By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
MOODY – A rested and ready Moody Blue Devis softball squad came into the week after 12 days off and dominated two of their biggest rivals on Tuesday and Wednesday in wins over Saint Clair County (12-2) and Leeds (11-1) to bring their current winning streak to 4 straight.
Moody’s Zoey Terry
(Photo by Moody Softball)
On Tuesday, the Blue Devils welcomed the Saints to Moody to be their first post-spring break victim on the softball diamond. Moody scored early and often in this one, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning while holding the Saints scoreless. The second would see no runs from either team, but Moody would outscore Saint Clair County 3-0 again in the third. The Saints got on the board in the fourth with 1 run, but Moody would answer in the bottom of the inning with 2 runs of their own to make it 8-1, all Blue Devils. In the fifth inning, Moody would get 4 more on the board and Saint Clair would manage just one more and the game would end at 12-2, all Moody. Ryleigh Hodges pitched 4 of the 5 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and striking out 2 batters in the process before Hannah Rutledge took over the mound to finish the game out by allowing just 1 run in an inning. At the plate, Zoey Terry absolutely smashed the ball, hitting it all 4 times she stepped up, scoring each time herself and getting 5 RBI in the process. Libby Higgins, Alex Harvard and Lacey Nichols all had 2 RBI each as well.
In the second game in as many days, Moody loaded up the bus and headed down 411 to Leeds to take on the rival Green Wave. Carrying over the momentum from the previous day, the Blue Devils got hot early in the game and did not slow down. Moody went up 2-0 in the first and then put up 5 runs in the second, still holding Leeds scoreless. In the third, Moody would score 3 runs to make it now 10-0 before allowing Leeds to score a run in the fourth inning. Moody would score one of their own and both teams would be scoreless in the fifth. The game would end with an 11-1 victory for the red-hot Blue Devils of Moody. In the game against Leeds, B Turley would get the win, pitching 3 innings and giving up just 1 hit. Hannah Rutledge would take over for Turley in the fourth, going 2 innings and allowing 1 run on 2 hits and striking out 1. Kendall Trimm channeled her inner Zoey Terry, hitting the ball all 3 trips to the plate, scoring each time and putting up 3 RBI to go with Harvard’s 4 RBI.
“I am extremely proud of my team,” said Moody coach Becky Seymour. “It’s always a challenge to regroup after a break. We didn’t play over spring break because the girls needed a break after a tough start to our season. Going into spring break, we had played 24 games so their bodies and minds were tired. I believe, for most instances, it’s a good thing to step away from the game so you can let your mind refocus and your body recharge. We knew we would get this break so I loaded our schedule in February and March.”
It paid off for the Lady Blue devils. Coach Seymour continued, “The girls came back with a strong focus and determination to win and it was evident from the first ball that was hit in practice. I was nervous for the first game on Tuesday because Saint Clair is a rival and an area game and the girls hadn’t played in 12 days. They came out strong and did their job. Then, against Leeds yesterday, they set the tone of the game in the first inning on offense and never let up. Defense for both games, including pitching performances, was outstanding and our bats put up 23 runs in two games. That is crazy! One thing I am glad to see is that we are still making mistakes, we are not perfect and I am glad for that. That means we still have growing and learning to do. We don’t want to be perfect on April 5. We want to be perfect May 17-18!”
The Lady Blue Devils improved to 17-9 and they will look to win their fifth in a row with a Monday trip to John Carroll Catholic High School.
