The Lady Hawks dominated Roswell and Jackson County in the first two games of the 2008 season. Both games were called in the fifth inning after Mill Creek pulled ahead by ten or more runs.
While pleased with the Lady Hawks early dominance, Mill Creek head coach Kelly Murdock does not take victory for granted, especially after Friday’s 5-4 loss to Houston County.
“This is such an interesting game,” she said. “It can be your day one day and not be it the next. We just have to remain focused on our mission which is winning every single inning.”
HORNETS SWATTED
They call it the mercy rule for a reason.
After giving up 12 unanswered runs, the Lady Hornets were probably glad to get off the field after five innings.
Mill Creek scored early in the first when Amberlie Saxton hit a home run deep over the center field fence. The homer sent Alex Rogers across the plate and gave Mill Creek a 2-0 lead. Before the inning ended, the Lady Hawks had scored again as Lauren Stimis batted in Hannah Graham.
After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Hawks started swinging again in the third. With one out and the bases loaded, Cynthia Parkhurst tripled sending home Saxton, Graham and Stimis to give Mill Creek a 6-0 lead.
Mill Creek pitcher Morgan Bullock struck out two batters in the bottom of the third as the Lady Hawks made three quick outs against the beleaguered Lady Hornets.
A double by Rogers early in the fourth set up Mill Creek’s lone score of the inning. Two batters later, Graham sent Rogers across the plate to extend the Lady Hawks’ lead to seven runs.
Things went from bad to worse for Roswell in the top of the fifth. Mill Creek rotated through its entire batting lineup as the Lady Hornets brought in a new pitcher in an attempt to postpone the inevitable.
Stimis, and Parkhurst singled to lead off the inning. Chelsea Cruce followed with a single of her own. Parkhurst advanced to second, but Stimis was tagged out at third. Another single by Suzee Mills loaded the bases and brought backup pitcher Lauren Kaczynski to the plate. Kaczynski doubled sending Parkhurst and Cruce home and giving Mill Creek a 9-0 lead.
With Mills and Kaczynski on base, Roswell walked Saxton to load the bases with two outs. Graham was also walked, sending Mills across the plate. Mill Creek scored twice more off Karlee Beggs’ double, taking a commanding 12-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
Kaczynski struck out two and a third was tagged out at first putting an end to Roswell’s misery as the officials called the game.
Murdock said she was pleased with the win.
“It was a very good team effort today. Everybody contributed which was great,” she said.
Bullock struck out five, allowing one hit in three innings of work to get the win. Relief pitcher Kaczynski also allowed only one hit.
Saxton finished the day with a home run, a double and three RBIs. Parkhurst had two hits and three RBIs. Graham added three hits and two RBIs. Stimis contributed two hits and a RBI to the winning effort.
PANTHERS TAMED
Another day, another rout.
The Lady Hawks blanked Jackson County 10-0 on Thursday. Once again, the mercy rule was invoked as the Lady Panthers were unable to mount any offense against the Mill Creek juggernaut. The game was called after five innings of play.
Pitcher Morgan Bullock picked up her second win of the season as the Lady Hawks improved to 2-0.
Karlee Beggs and Lauren Stimis both had two hits, a run, and a stolen base. Hannah Graham went 1-for-2 with a run and two stolen bases.
FIRST LOSS
After two strong performances, the Lady Hawks suffered a setback on Friday with a 5-4 loss to undefeated Houston County.
Mill Creek fell to 2-1 for the season after a disappointing outing against the Lady Bears (8-0).
Lauren Stimis led the Lady Hawks with a double and an RBI. Pitcher Morgan Bullock was 1-for-2 at the plate with two steals. Bullock was charged with the loss in Friday’s games, giving up one earned run and six hits in five innings of work.
RAINED OUT
Monday’s game against South Forsyth was cancelled due to storms in the area. The game, which has been rescheduled for Friday, September 12, would have been Mill Creek’s first region game of the season. Tuesday’s game against North Gwinnett was also rained out. That game will now be played on Wednesday, September 24.
UP NEXT
Mill Creek travels to Northview on Thursday for a region game. First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 p.m.
