Fairfield softball passes first test

FAIRFIELD — The advantage in experience often goes a long way, and on Monday night at Fairfield Middle School, the elder team took full advantage.

A battle-tested Fairfield softball squad vanquished youthful Van Buren County team 5-0 in the 2022 season opener.

Junior ace Coty Engle cruised on the pitcher’s mound, striking out 14 Warriors and giving up just two hits in a complete-game shut out.

“She threw well,” said Fairfield head coach Bob Bradfield. “It obviously makes our defense look pretty good because we didn’t have to make many plays.”

The Trojans put up a pair of runs in the second inning. Savannah Hollander and Coty Engle each had RBI singles, and Brynley Allison scored on a wild pitch.

Danielle Breen knocked in a run in the third inning. Payton McCabe had the exclamation point, blasting a solo home run to right field, the first long ball of her career.

“I’ve hit some home runs during travel ball, but that one felt good,” said McCabe. “(It felt good just to know that I actually hit one in high school.”

Despite the loss, Van Buren County head coach Randy Smith said he was pleased with his team’s performance on the defensive end. Alli Campbell threw a complete game for the Warriors in the circle.

“I thought we had some really good plays,” Smith said. “I wasn’t disappointed at all.”