Published: April 18, 2008 10:45 pm         

Lady Raiders strike early

By GREG KEIM

greg.keim@goshennews.com

Spotting their ace pitcher a four-run lead in the top of the first inning was all the Northridge Lady Raiders needed to notch a Northern Lakes Conference softball win.

Freshman Sami Lopez and junior Samantha Baker both singled in two runs in the first as senior Ashley Hamilton limited the Concord offense to a one hit in an 8-0 NHS win at Dunlap.

Hamilton improved her record to 4-0, striking out eight and walking one in the complete game victory. She faced 22 batters or one over the minimum.

“She pitched one heck of a game,” Northridge coach Andy Robinson said.

Concord coach Robb Freeze said, “We gave Northridge confidence right off the bat. Both teams are young, but we wavered a little after that.

“We faced two other pitchers this week, but neither one had the speed or movement Hamilton does on her pitches.”

Both teams are in action today with Northridge (5-0, 3-0 NLC) hosting West Noble and Concord (3-4, 2-1) meeting Fort Wayne Northrop in the Huntington Invitational.

Northridge’s offense pounded out 10 hits, which pleased Robinson.

“We finally hit the ball,” the coach said. “We spent all practice Thursday working on hitting. It showed.”

Senior Ashley Cooper and Sami Lopez both had three hits for the Raiders. Both players singled in the first, doubled in the third and singled in the fourth.

Besides her two RBI in the first, Sami Lopez drove in a run in the third and one on the fourth.

“Cooper and Lopez both hit the ball well,” Robinson said.

Senior Cassie Boese singled in the first and fifth for the Raiders.

“Boese has really worked on her slap bunts,” Robinson said. “She did a nice job of setting the table for us.”

Robinson also praised junior catcher Jessica Lopez.

“Hamilton had to throw the pitches, but Lopez called a great game,” he said. “It’s the girls’ game so I let her call the pitches.”

Sophomore Kiara Slabach singled in the fourth for Concord’s hit.

Junior Courtney Cameron pitched for Concord, striking out three and walking four.

“Cameron pitched a good game,” Freeze said. “She just got a little rattled with some of the calls behind the plate. That is part of the game and she needs to learn from it.”