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Contributions aplenty in Williamsburg’s doubleheader sweep of CCA
Batey makes most of opportunity in DH role
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
TIFFIN — Williamsburg senior Abby Batey has been mostly a supportive teammate in the dugout this season, with a few occasional dance moves here and there.
“It just keeps the energy up,” Batey said of her energetic attitude.
After only seven at-bats all season, Batey did more than just cheer and dance when she started her second game of the season in the designated hitter spot in game one of a pivotal WaMaC West softball doubleheader against Clear Creek Amana Monday.
Batey, who also made an appearance in game two, made the most of her opportunity, going 3-3 at the plate with two RBIs.
“It felt great to get that chance and opportunity to show what I can do,” said Batey.
Batey, in the eight spot, was part of the back third of the Raiders’ lineup that did a majority of the damage in the 12-2 game one victory.
The Raiders’ seven, eight and nine batters in the lineup, which included Kalon Spratt and Ava Hocker, combined for seven of the team’s 11 RBIs.
Hocker continued the hot-hitting into game two, hitting the cycle between the two games with five runs knocked in. On the season, Hocker is batting .379 from the nine-spot.
“I talk to my teammates that bat ahead of me, so I know what the pitcher is throwing by the time I’m up,” said Hocker. “It brings me a lot of confidence, and it really helps me in my at-bats.
“It’s also great having the top of my order after me because I know if I get on, usually we keep it going.”
A six-run third inning opened up the score in game one, which ended after five innings. Alley Gorsh added a home run for the Raiders in the fifth.
Turner Patrick and Addilyn Scheetz had RBIs for the Clippers in the fourth.
Game two was a similar story, except the Raiders didn’t pull away until later in the game.
Scheetz’s two-RBI single in the second cut the lead to 3-2.
It was all Raiders after that, adding one run in the third and three in the sixth and seventh innings for a 10-2 final. Taylor Pitlick totaled three RBIs in game two for the Raiders.
In the 12 innings of play, the Raiders totaled 26 hits with 21 runs driven in by 10 different players.
“Our bench was really good tonight keeping the energy up,” Hocker said following the sweep. “It totally carries to our at-bats, our defense and our wins.”
With the two wins, Class 3A No. 2 Williamsburg (26-7, 19-1 WaMaC), needs just one win Wednesday in a doubleheader against Grinnell to secure a seventh straight West divisional title.
4A No. 6 Clear Creek Amana (24-8, 15-3) picks things back up at Solon Wednesday.
