Patriots steamroll Clovers

CLOVERDALE - The Owen Valley Patriots pounded out seven extra-base hits, including home runs from Ashlyn Boltinghouse and Andi Burkhart, to hand the Cloverdale Clovers a 15-0 defeat in Western Indiana Conference softball action Tuesday evening.

It took little time for the hard-hitting Patriot offense to fire up.

Owen Valley put up four in the top of the first. With one on, Taylor Monroe tripled to right and later scored on a wild pitch. After a one-out walk, Boltinghouse drove one over the right center field fence to make it 4-0.

The Patriots kept things rolling in the top of the second. Anna DeFord walked and stole second, then scored on a single from Kailee Cooper. Monroe then drove in her second run of the game on a sharp single to center.

Burkhart then doubled to bring home Monroe. Taylor Bernard then brought in the fourth run of the inning on a single to center. It was quickly 8-0.

Cloverdale struggled getting its offense rolling, totaling four hits on the day. Owen Valley put it out of reach in the third, sending 10 batters to the plate.

Pitcher Abby McDonald and Lucy Dyer started it off with singles. After being sacrificed over, Cooper tripled to right, bringing in her third RBI of the game.

A Taylor York walk put two runners on for Monroe, who smashed her second double of the night, bringing in two more runs. The Patriots added one more on a double from Boltinghouse.

Burkhart closed the game out in the fifth, hitting a solo shot to left center to make it 15-0. All but one batter in the visiting lineup had at least one hit, including two round trippers, three triples and two doubles.

“We knew coming in they could really put the bat on the ball. They are a good team,” said Clover coach Jamie Steffy.

Sydney Bernard, Keelie Price, Andrea Nees and Kailey Caulkins each singled for Cloverdale.

“We have been through a brutal part of the schedule lately. We have seven freshmen getting playing time and the speed of the varsity game they are catching up to. We hope to be playing our best ball at the end of the year,” added coach Steffy.

Owen Valley 446 01 — 15 15 1

Cloverdale 000 00 — 0 0 2

Batting

Hits — (CL) Price 1-2, News 1-2, Caulkins 1-2, Bernard 1-3; (OV) Monroe 3-4, Burkhart 2-3, Cooper 2-4, Bernard 2-4, Boltinghouse 2-4

RBI — (OV) Monroe 4, Cooper 3, Boltinghouse 3, Burkhart 2, Bernard 2

2B — (OV) Boltinghouse, Burkart

3B — (OV) Monroe 2, Cooper

HR — (OV) Burkhart, Boltinghouse

Pitching

Owen Valley