Independence used timely hitting and solid pitching to beat visiting Wickliffe on Monday, 7-2.
The win was the 15th in a row for the Blue Devils, who improved to 17-2 overall.
“The entire team is focused and they know their roles,” said Independence coach Garry Moore. “Each player has a job to do. Molly Dougherty and Ashley Caputo both had big games at the plate.”
Dougherty finished 2-for-3 with a double and Caputo was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple and she knocked in a pair of runs.
“It was a huge win for us,” Caputo said. “It helped us knowing we could hit good pitching since we are going into playoffs.”
Independence scored three runs in the bottom of the third to break open what was a scoreless game.
Kim Rega singled and moved to second on an error. She scored on Olivia Pallini’s two-out double. Caputo followed with a double to make it 2-0 and Dougherty stepped up and hit a third straight double for the Blue Devils.
Independence added four more in the fourth when Sophia Trombetta singled and scored on Sarah Piteo’s triple. Maggie George then singled and Pallini reached on an error. Caputo’s triple closed out the scoring for the Blue Devils.
“I’m very satisfied with my hitting today,” Caputo said. “I was kind of nervous at first but I put that aside and just hit the ball and put it in play. I have so much confidence with myself and the team because we have each other’s backs and we have really come together and work as a team.”
Wickliffe manufactured a pair of runs in the fifth on two walks and singles by Emily Lesco and Caitlyn Henderson but Piteo stepped into the circle for Rega and slammed the door to seal Independence’s win.
Rega allowed two earned runs on two hits and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings to pick up the win. Piteo earned the save by allowing just two hits and she struck out three in 2 2/3 innings of work.
