Softball earns split home against Durham

By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE – Humber softball (13-3, 3^rd OCAA) took lessons from the last game and split the Durham Lords (14-2, 2^nd OCAA) Tuesday evening on a doubleheader under the lights of Connorvale Park. Shea Hilpert led the Hawks offensively, recording seven hits in the twin bill. The defence stood out in the second game once again, with Shade Hansen securing nine strikeouts in seven innings. 

Game one (Durham 6, Humber 5) 

Meagan Muir got to the nod in the circle and started hot as the senior made quick work of Durham's hitters, rolling through the lineup and not allowing any hit in the first frame. Then, it was time for the Hawks to start pouring the runs. 

Lead-off batter Shea Hilpert did not waste any time and singled to left field, she stole second before Reese Velocci came out hot to score a one-run single. Amelia Russo would come in clutch smashing to center field to hit a single and send Velocci home safe. The Hawks would leave the first frame up 2-0. 

In the second inning, the Hawks' defence stood out with an amazing team play. Angelina Bomberry would throw across the diamond to Velocci, who caught Durham's Alana Smale stealing second and got the third out for Humber. 

As the sun set, the Hawks' defence started to cool down. On the opposite side, the Lords set the temperature with Grace Hearns crushing an RBI double and driving Kaleigh MacIntyre home, adding the first run on the board to the Lords. 

Hearns would not be left behind, thanks to Jessica Greene's RBI triple to right field. The Lords did not want to leave the inning with an equal number of runs, Jocelyn Shelton singling to center field to drive Greene home and put Durham in the lead. The second-ranked team in the OCAA would still score two more runs before Mikaela Moore came in relief and Hannah Oke was grounded out. Durham led 5-2. 

When things seemed out of Humber's control, the Hawks' offence would come back alive to make it a two-run game in the bottom of the third. Hilpert once again singled to shortstop and stole second, she would be later driven home by Velocci, who scored her second RBI of the night, 5-3. 

In the fifth inning, Humber's offence continued to roll to tie the match up. Shea Hilpert would be driven home safe after Rilee Devries' sacrifice fly. Amelia Russo would step into the box and come up clutch once again making quick work of Durham's pitcher Sydney Redick and scoring another RBI single, sending Alexis Ferreira home safe, 5-5. 

In the following inning, Humber's defence would drop a crucial play, and Natalie Clemens scored an unearned run, putting the Lords ahead on the board once again, 6-5. 

When Hannah Oke smashed a deep center shot, scoring the Hawks fans in the crowd, Shea Hilpert made an incredible dive to her left, making a sprawling catch to stop Durham's offence. 

The Hawks had the chance to tie the match in the last inning with players in the first and second, but Melissa Hahnfeld was flown out and Humber would end the first game with a defeat, 6-5. 

Game two (Humber 7, Durham 0) 

With the sun fully set, starting pitcher Shade Hansen was shining bright, making quick work of Durham's batters, adding one more strikeout to her Humber career and allowing no hits in the first frame. The rookie has more than twice as many strikeouts as the second-ranked pitcher in the OCAA. 

In the bottom of the first, the Hawks would come in hot with Shea Hilpert starting off with a single to left field and Alexis Ferreira smashing a double. With the bases loaded after Reese Velocci walked, Hilpert would score on a wild pitch putting the first and only run of the inning, 1-0. 

In the following inning, the Hawks would mimic their performance of the first and score another run. Shea Hilpert stayed hot in the second game, crushing a single RBI and driving Melissa Hahnfeld home safe. The Hawks would step out of the second with a 2-0 lead. 

While the Lords' offence seemed to have cooled down after a great performance in the first game, Humber did not stop rolling. Hannah Koziolek stepped into the dish and homered past the fence, smashing the first home run of the day and sending Rilee Devries home. The Hawks would leave the third, four runs up on the board. 

Durham was struggling to find an answer for fast-ball pitches from rookie Shade Hansen, who struck out six batters in the first four innings. In the bottom of the same frame, Alexis Ferreira would calmly crush an RBI double to deep center field that would drive Shea Hilpert for her fifth run of the day. Ferreira would magically steal third before Rilee Devries' second sacrifice fly to send the Mississauga-born home. Humber led 6-0.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Reese Velocci would add another number on the board after doubling to right field, advancing to third on a passed ball and scoring after Rilee Devries' second RBI in the game. 

The Hawks ended the doubleheader against the Durham Lords, splitting the result, and winning the second game 7-0. 

Humber Highlights

• Shade Hansen now sits 11 strikeouts away from becoming the first Humber pitcher to record 100 strikeouts.
• Humber improves to 26-27 all-time against Durham.
• Through 17 games, Reese Velocci is fifth in the conference with a .481 batting average.
• Shea Hilpert leads the OCAA with 13 swiped bags, while Alexis Ferreira sits in second with 12.
• Rilee Devries 21 RBIs are the second most in the conference.

What's Next?

The Hawks (13-3, 3^rd OCAA) will welcome the Conestoga Condors (3-11, 6^th OCAA) on a twin bill next Thursday, Sept. 28, at Connorvale Park. The first pitch is set for right before sunset, at 6 p.m.