Apr 5, 2018 4 min read

HOUSTON – March was a frustrating month for the Chartiers-Houston softball team.

Not because the Bucs were losing games, but rather because they weren’t playing games. Entering C-H’s section-opening game against Bentworth Thursday, the Bucs were only able to play one game – a 5-1 win over Southmoreland on March 26 – with four other games being postponed.

The Bucs released all their frustrations during the cold, windy game, sending 19 batters to the plate in the first two innings en route to an 11-0 mercy-rule win over Section 3-AA opponent Bentworth.

“It’s cold out here,” said sophomore shortstop Kaci Alderson, who went 3-for-3 with two home runs and a double. “My dad always says it’s 15 degrees warmer in the winning team’s dugout, so we wanted to come out with intensity and put up a ton of runs.”

Bentworth pitcher Leah Lindley couldn’t stop the middle of Chartiers-Houston’s batting order. The Bucs’ 3-through-6 hitters – Kaci Alderson, Lauren Laber, Ella Brookman and Karlyn Bayer – went 10-for-11 with a walk, six RBI, two home runs and a double.

“We were just happy to be outside,” said C-H head coach Tricia Alderson. “We’re just trying to put the ball in play and make things happen. All the practicing that we’ve been doing paid off a little bit today. They were really excited to play, because we haven’t played for so long. We were tired of being in the gym.”

Kaci Alderson said the win proved she is far from the only offensive threat in the Bucs’ lineup.

“It’s really nice having people who hit around me,” Kaci Alderson said. “We have all of this potential and all of this power, and that showed today.”

Kaitlyn Dittrich made quick work of the Bearcats to keep the momentum of the Bucs’ bats. The senior allowed three hits in five innings, striking out six and walking one.

“She kept the ball where we wanted it, moved it around and she was spinning it well,” said Alderson. “We were pleased with how she did.”

After Dittrich retired the side in order to start the game, the Bucs (1-0, 2-0) scored four runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Kasey Scears, who reached on an error to start the game, scored on a throwing error from the catcher after she advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Kaci Alderson hit her first solo home run of the game, Laber, Brookman and Bayer each roped singles in the hole to take a 4-0 lead.

The bats stayed hot in the second inning, as C-H scored five runs on five hits to take a 9-0 lead after two innings. Scears led off with a walk, and the Bucs’ two-through-six hitters all reached base. Jaylese Lombardi and Kaci Alderson hit back-to-back home runs, and Laber, Brookman and Bayer reached on a single, a walk and a single, respectively. Dittrich then hit a sacrifice fly to score Laber, and Madyson Smith laced a single to score Brookman.

“The first (home run) wasn’t that good. It carried with the wind,” Kaci Alderson said. “But (the second) home run, after Jaylese hit her home run she said, ‘Try to one-up me on that one.’ I just went up there and swung as hard as I could, and it went out.'”

C-H added two more in the third inning when Kaci Alderson and Laber hit back-to-back doubles, and Brookman singled home Laber.

Dittrich allowed baserunners in her last three innings, but the righty beared down to secure the Bucs’ five-inning, mercy-rule victory.

The Bucs are back in action Saturday, when they host West Greene at 3 p.m.