Streets, Lakewood softball nip Newark in season opener

On Mar 26, 2023

HEBRON ― It was a very blustery Saturday afternoon at Lakewood, but neither Lancers’ junior Becca Street or Newark senior Jaylen Jackson were blowing their hard-hitting opponent away.

In fact, it was Streets’ ability to take a lot off of her fastball that proved to be the difference in a well-played season opener, that saw winds routinely gusting between 25 and 35 miles per hour.

“My changeup is usually better than that. Today, it was a little weaker, but it was good enough to get the job done,” said Streets’ who used her change of pace to record five of her seven strikeouts during the pivotal fifth and sixth innings of a 3-2 victory. “The wind was actually moving the ball around early, in places where I didn’t want it, but I got used to it,” she said.

“She pitched a a good game. We knew it (the changeup) was coming, but we just couldn’t pull back,” Newark coach Chris Back said. “She’s been real consistent in our scrimmages, and she has all of the pitches that we need,” said Lakewood coach Jon Griffith. “She did not have it all today, but she found a way.”

While Streets effectively scattered six hits, striking out seven and walking only one, Jackson also pitched well in her five-hitter, fanning four, walking four and hitting a batter. However, the Lancers were able to grab the early lead and never let it go.

In the second inning, Carly Williams walked, was sacrificed to second by Streets, and Abby Colley singled off the tip of third baseman Paige Simons’ glove. A wild pitch moved them up, and with two outs, Audrey Thomas delivered a two-run single to center.

“We started out a little slow in our scrimmages, but it feels like we’re finally putting things together,” said Thomas, the leadoff hitter and one of only four seniors for Lakewood. “I’ve been struggling a little bit, but I got the pitch I wanted and was able to hit it up the middle. Becca pitched really well. Her changeup can be better, but she hit her spots.”

The Lancers added what proved to be a big insurance run in the fourth, when Streets led off with a single to left. Freshman pinch runner Cora Redman went to second on a passed ball, stole third and scampered home when Lauren Griffith chopped out to second.

The Wildcats finally broke through in the fifth, as Chelsea Swonger doubled to right center and Mal Back singled to left. The second baseman then threw away Alasandra Spears’ bouncer, allowing both runners to score, but Streets struck out slugger Dez Osler on a changeup to avert further damage. It was the only error by either team.

Newark threatened again in the sixth, as Meah Morris and Swonger had back-to-back, two-out singles and wound up at second and third. However, Streets again used the change to strike out pinch hitter Karlee Clarke.

Power-hitting Syncere Royster will be a fixture in the middle of the Wildcats’ lineup when she returns from spring break vacation, but coach Back wasn’t using her absence as an excuse, as he has a veteran team on his hands.

“Eight of them have played four years,” he said. “We couldn’t get any big hits with runners in scoring position, and that was the difference. We didn’t execute very well or move runners along. We have to have more productive at bats.”

Osler had a first-inning double for Newark, but was left stranded.

Hitting has been a problem in the early going for Lakewood, but coach Griffith started to see signs of life.

“We need to get the bats going,” he said. “It was a little better today. We didn’t get a lot of hits, but we put the ball in play. Newark did a nice job. It was a good game for both teams.”