by Devan Matthews
Correspondent
The Maple Heights High School softball team is halfway to another Lake Erie League division title.
The Mustangs played four games recently, winning three of them. As a result, they now sport an overall record of 5-2, as well as an undefeated mark of 3-0 in the Erie Division of the LEL.
Maple Heights lost the first contest in its four-game stretch, falling to Lake Division member Admiral King 10-0 on the road April 15.
Senior Sam DeJarnett was the starting pitcher for the Mustangs. She threw four innings, giving up just one earned run.
"We committed some errors in the first inning," said Maple Heights head coach Rocco Covelli. "I tried a couple of new pitchers, too, and they walked a bunch of batters."
The Mustangs hit the road again April 19 for a doubleheader against Cleveland Central Catholic. Maple Heights had no problem with the Ironmen, winning both contests in easy fashion.
DeJarnett fired a no-hitter in the first game, as the Mustangs cruised to a 10-0 victory in five innings. Junior Krystina Pace paced the victors offensively, slamming a home run and driving in four runs.
Other offensive leaders included DeJarnett (double, two singles) and sophomore Eleanor Ceasor (three singles).
DeJarnett was the pitcher of record in the nightcap, as well, needing only another five innings to dispose of Central Catholic. Maple Heights drilled the Ironmen by a 12-1 margin, as DeJarnett struck out eight batters in the process.
Junior Shanae James enjoyed a monster game for the Mustangs, smashing a home run, triple and single and collecting five RBIs.
In addition, senior Monica Daniel contributed three hits and two RBIs, while freshman Megan Simmons accounted for a triple and single.
On April 21, Maple Heights battled league foe Bedford on the road, downing the Bearcats by the score of 7-4.
The Mustangs didn't start the game very well, though, relinquishing three unearned runs in the opening inning.
"They [the Bearcats] only had one hit the rest of the way," said Covelli. "Sam ended up with a four-hitter. She was excellent."
James was 3-for-4 at the plate with three stolen bases, Pace went 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs, senior Crystal Alexander produced a triple and single and junior Shanna Gregory cracked a pair of singles.
With a record of 3-0 within the division, Covelli and the Mustangs know they can wrap up the Erie Division crown with a 6-0 ledger.
"We've beaten everybody in our division once," said Covelli. "We have to play them a second time, and we're hoping to get another championship."
On April 24, they'll host Regina before traveling to Lorain Southview on Friday.
"I think the girls are confident right now," said Covelli. "We're going to keep testing some of our younger pitchers in the near future. After all, we can't throw Sam out there every day. We need to have a legitimate number-two pitcher."
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