High school softball: Avon hits, pitches in five-inning win over Vermilion

AVON — It's early, but Avon is ready to roll. The Eagles banged out 10 hits, Mallory Kayes threw shutout ball, and combined with six Vermilion errors, Avon grabbed its second win of the season, beating the Sailors 10-0 in a non-conference game Wednesday shortened by the run rule. "It feels really good. We've been working hard for this since the preseason," Kayes said. "I threw pretty well. I've been working on my location and I love that I have that great defense that works for me." The Eagles scored in all five innings with the top six hitters in the lineup accounting for all 10 hits and nine runs. Senior Grace Mangan led the way, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, a pair of runs batted in and a stolen base. "It feels pretty good to get off to a good start and we are working to get better every day," said Mangan, who has five hits over the first two games. Juniors Amelia Holbrook and Natalie Thomas each had a pair of hits and each drove in two runs, while senior catcher Sarah Perry drove in a run with two hits. "Defensively, we have to clean up a few things, but we threw a girl out at home plate. We could have had a couple at third had we held onto the ball," Eagles coach Ken Matuszak said. "The hitting is what has impressed me. We knew we would be a good hitting team. We even brought a couple freshmen out there and they hit." The Sailors (0-2) didn't score but they had chances to push home runs, failing to come up with a couple timely hits. A couple runs were wiped out by stellar defense from Avon. Vermilion's Cora Frederick led off the game with one of her two hits and got to third, but Kayes struck out the side, finishing with nine strikeouts over five innings. The Sailors' Abby Gawry laced a one-out triple to the gap in right-center but was cut down on a close play at the plate on a wild pitch to end that threat. Vermilion pinch hitter Kirsten Palmer walked to start the fifth, went to second on a fielder's choice, but she was gunned down at home on a Frederick hit with Holbrook throwing a strike to Perry. "Sarah Perry behind the plate did a really, really good job today," Matuszak said. "She had to replace an All-Ohio catcher in Emma Ody and she has done an outstanding job in the first two games." For Vermilion, there have been good signs for the future. "I knew (Avon) would be tough," Sailors coach Tony Larizza said. "We have some missing players and some inexperienced players. We got a lot more hits from the bottom of the order (from the first game) and we have girls coming back from injuries and sickness. "Gracie had 15 strikeouts on Tiffin (6-3 loss) and we had the same issue with defense. She's a senior and I'm glad to have her." Contact James Brady at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.