Prep softball: Colony slips past Service

PALMER - Colony High softball coach Mike Stewart had no idea what to expect Saturday.

&#8220We were up against one of the top pitchers in the state (Service's Sylvia Bullock) and we struggled hitting the ball a little against Palmer earlier in the week.” Stewart said. &#8220I honestly had no idea what team was going to show up today.”

But Stewart was pleasantly surprised as the Knights put together what he called its most complete game of the season in a 5-4 win over the visiting Service Cougars at Bumpus Fields.

&#8220A lot of things fell into place for us today, and it was good to see,” Stewart said. &#8220We really needed a game like this to get things going this season.”

Leading the way was Michelle Stratton. The Knights' right-handed pitcher struck out seven, walked one and allowed just six hits over six innings.

&#8220I felt great out there today,” Stratton said. &#8220The big thing for me is control. I wanted to get ahead in the count early, and I was able to do that. Plus my teammates gave me incredible support on defense.”

Pitching head-to-head against Bullock was something Stratton was eager to do.

&#8220I was ready to go last night,” Stratton said. &#8220I love the challenge of facing a good pitcher. I wanted to go out and prove that we can play with the elite teams in the state.”

Service has a history of success in prep softball, being just one of three teams to have won the state championships in the 11 years of softball in high schools. During that time the Cougars have won five titles and finished second three times.

&#8220We've gotten wins against Anchorage teams in the past,” Stewart said. &#8220But to win against a top-level team like Service is a big deal for us. I've told the girls all season that we can play with the best teams in the state. I hope the win today gives them the confidence to believe that.”

The Knights scored all its runs in the third after struggling to figure out Bullock's pitches.

&#8220We were a little behind her speed the first couple innings,” Stratton said. &#8220By the second at bat, we figured out her first pitch was going to be a fast ball right down the middle. She's pretty consistent about that and we were able to put together a big inning.”

Jonna Dompier led off the inning with a single into straight-away center field, followed by a Kristen Coan walk. Desi Diselrod then smacked a line drive in to left center scoring Dompier and starting the Knights rally.

Stratton hit a rocket right at Service shortstop Katie Clem, but she bobbled the ball, allowing two more runs to score. A Kelsey Stein single scored Hannah Wheeler who reached on a bunt single. Stratton then scored after stealing third base on a passed ball, sliding under the tag of Bullock.

Service came up with a rally of its own in the fifth, stringing together four hits.

But that would be all Stratton would allow as she struck out four of the final six batters she faced.

Bullock finished with eight strikeouts. Four came in the first two innings before the Colony bats came to

life.

&#8220Anytime you can get a win against a top-level team and perhaps the best pitcher in the state it is a good thing,” Stewart said. &#8220We've kind of been up and down this season until today,.Hopefully this is a sign that things are finally coming together for us.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.