Zawacki homers twice to lead Trinity past PT
Alexa Zawacki didn’t get a chance to hit the first time through the lineup because of a mixup that led to Trinity batting out of order.
When she finally did get an opportunity to swing, Zawacki punished the softball.
Twice.
Zawacki hit a two-run homer in the third inning and had a solo shot in the sixth as part of a 16-hit afternoon for the Hillers in a 14-5 win over Peters Township in a Class 5A Section 4 game Monday at Trinity Middle School.
In the bottom of the first, Trinity pushed across four runs, but when it came turn for Zawacki to hit, Charlotte Hinkler, who was behind Zawacki in the order, stepped up to the plate.
Hinkler hit a sacrifice fly that scored Trinity’s fourth run. After her at-bat was completed Peters Township coach Jenna Muncie let the umpires know that the Hillers had battled out of order.
“We just got mixed up,” Zawacki said. “We both thought (Hinkler) was first and I was after her, but that wasn’t the case.”
Zawacki was called out before she could step in the box and the inning was over.
“Our book and our Gamechanger had two different lineups, so it wasn’t the girls’ fault,” Trinity coach Shawn Gray said. “It was more on us for not putting the people in place.”
In the third inning, Zawacki made no mistake when she got a pitch to drive. She smashed a ball over the centerfield fence, which increased Trinity’s lead to 7-0.
“It was perfect height and, on the outside,” Zawacki said. “I knew I just needed to get a hit after what happened. It was right there, so I had to hit it.”
Zawacki said her second home run came on a similar pitch, but this one she drove to right for an opposite field homer, which was part of a four-run seventh that put the game out of reach.
Trinity (1-1, 7-1) scored three runs in the fourth and led 10-1. The game looked like it could be headed to mercy rule, but Peters Township (1-2, 2-4) fought back in the top of the fifth.
The Indians scored four runs with the big hit being a bases-clearing double by Laney Mountain.
Peters Township loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth on a walk by Braylin Fusco, a single by Kaylee Lubic and a walk by Julianne Adder.
But Hillers reliever Maddie Ray got a strikeout and a lineout to strand the runners.
“It was nice for us to have a bright spot in our game, but the reality is we have to be a little bit cleaner and tighter to put a whole game together and not blips of good moments,” Muncie said.
Seven of the nine starters for Trinity reached base at least twice.
Elora Friend had four hits from the leadoff spot, including a triple and two doubles.
“Elora is a freshman and she’s been a great addition to the team,” Gray said. “That’s why she’s up in that position at leadoff. She’s been driving the ball for us and we’re hopeful that will continue.”
Nina Christy had a pair of RBI singles. Gabby Humphreys walked, reached on an infield single and scored two runs. Emma Starr had two singles and two RBI and Hinkler doubled twice, singled and drove in three runs.
Humphreys, who is a starting forward on the Trinity girls basketball team, was the winning pitcher. She struck out nine batters in five innings and walked three. Lili Giulianelli took the loss for Peters Township. Giulianelli is also an accomplished wrestler. She finished fifth in the state at 190 pounds.
Peters Twp. 000 140 0 – 5 12 2
Trinity 412 304 x – 14 16 2
W-Humphreys (3 walks, 9 strikeouts). L-Giulianelli (3 walks, 4 strikeouts). 2B-PT, Mountain. T, Hinkler 2, Friend. 3B-T, Friend. HR-T, Zawacki (2).