ONTARIO, Ohio — Shelby pitcher Hayley Kanzig didn’t need a lot of run support Tuesday afternoon, but the Whippets provided plenty anyhow.
The left-handed Kanzig surrendered just two hits and Shelby remained unbeaten with a run rule-shortened 11-1 win over Ontario on a blustery Tuesday afternoon.
Shelby (5-0, 2-0 Northern Ohio League) banged out 17 hits a day after scoring 22 runs in a win at Tiffin Columbian.
“We’ve done a really good job at the plate, especially coming through in the clutch when we have runners on base,” said Shelby coach Natalie Huggins, the daughter of Colonel Crawford coaching legend Chuck Huggins. “We’ve gotten contributions from everyone in our lineup, one through nine. That’s been a nice surprise.
“I have absolute confidence that no matter who is at the plate, if we need a clutch hit they are going to get it done for us.”
Bulldog: Kanzig gave up a run-scoring single to Lauren Musille in the first and surrendered a two-out base hit to Brianna Carmack in the second. She retired 13 of the final 15 hitters she faced.
“That’s the Hayley we’ve been waiting for,” Huggins said. “She was an absolute bulldog tonight.”
Kanzig struck out four and walked three. Only one Ontario runner reached second base in her final five innings of work.
“She’s a very good pitcher. We see her twice a year and we know what to expect from her,” Ontario coach Chris Musille said. “She does a good job of working the corners. We try to be patient but we struggle with her some times.”
Heavy Lumber: All nine Shelby hitters had at least one base hit. Leadoff hitter Kennadie Goth, a Kent State University recruit, had three singles, as did No. 2 batter Rachel Engman. Maddie Fidler, who belted three home runs in Monday’s win at Tiffin, launched a run-scoring double to the base of the wall in center in the third that probably would have left the park had the wind not been howling.
Kanzig helped her own cause with a double and two singles, while Emma Taylor had a pair of singles and scored twice. Sophia Grimm had two hits, scored two runs and knocked in a pair. Lizzy Vogt had a two-run double while Taightam Hicks drove in three runs. C.C. Gurney, who had two home runs at Tiffin, knocked in a run.
“They have a good lineup from top to bottom. They are undefeated for a reason,” Musille said. “We didn’t do a very good job of defending the bunt. They probably had five or six bunt base hits.
“When you play against a good team like that, you’ve got to make plays.”
