Douglas High's Bri Williams get a high five after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against McQueen Thursday.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Douglas High softball is crushing the ball at the plate this season.
Through 21 games played, the Tigers have pelted 27 home runs, averaging more than one long ball per contest.
Thursday in a 6-0 win against McQueen, the Tigers hit two more balls over the fence.
Bri Williams got the scoring started in the second inning with a solo shot to left field.
For Williams the dinger was her fifth of the season. Four of those five home runs have come over the junior’s last five games.
The 1-0 lead was quickly extended by an Emma Stagliano double, which knocked in Ava Delaney. Stagliano ended up coming all the way around the bases on a Lancer throwing error.
In the bottom of the sixth, Lilyann Lee took a letter-high fastball and thumped it over the right field fence.
Even with the wind blowing in, it didn’t stop the sophomore slugger from demolishing her team-leading eighth home run of the year.
Lee said she was not expecting to have this many home runs at this point of the season.
“No, honestly, not really,” said Lee. “I was expecting to hit a few home runs, but not eight at this point. Just having my team pep talk me through it all because I get in my head sometimes.”
It’s been really important. It keeps our team focused in on the game,” added Lee. “We really get on it when we’re on the bases.”
Dakota Till and Delaney followed with RBI doubles of their own to allow the Tigers to reach their 6-0 win.
While Lee and Williams have 13 of the Tigers’ 27 home runs so far this season, Douglas is getting pop from all areas of the lineup.
Senior catcher Ryleigh Blaire has six home runs over her own this season.
“I just feel like it’s our attitude at practice,” said Blaire. “Obviously, none of us are going up there thinking, ‘wow I just want to smash it over the fence.’”
Pitchers Talia Tretton and Mackenzie Willis each have two home runs for the Tigers while Haley Wilkinson has added two of her own.
Maddie Gooch and Eva McNinch each have a home run to their name as well this season.
Thursday’s win over McQueen marked the Tigers’ sixth win in a row and ninth win in their last ten games.
“All three facets today, I thought we played solidly,” said Douglas head coach John Glover. “Our pitchers have been striking out a lot of people.”
With so many home runs this season, opposing pitchers have to be feeling the pressure that any Tiger hitter can take them deep at any given moment.
“I would assume so,” said Blaire. “Honestly, I think a little stress is good for everybody.”
UP NEXT: Douglas (16-5-1, 6-1 in Class 5A league play) heads to Reed (12-6, 4-0) tomorrow for a doubleheader, starting at 11 a.m.
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