Kim Rega did it all for Independence in a 12-1 win at Berkshire on Monday.
Rega was 4-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and three runs batted in and she picked up the pitching win after allowing just one run on five hits and struck out three.
“I feel like I do well because I have such a good team behind me to back me up,” Rega said. “I know it’s a cliché but I just feel so comfortable because I have them. They’re a great team.”
Rega’s success in the circle was due to her accuracy. She walked just one Berkshire hitter.
“Kimmy really limited the walks today,” said Independence coach Steve Ambrose. “That's the stat that we've been talking to her about. That's what we want her to do, throw strikes and let her defense do the job.”
Jenna Suhy got the Independence offense off to a great start when she singled to start the first. Katie George then walked and Rega singled home Suhy for a 1-0 lead. George singled on Maggie George’s sacrifice bunt and Rega scored on Olivia Pallini’s two-out double to make it 3-0.
The Blue Devils added a run in the fourth when Sophia Trombetta drew a one out walk and scored on back-to-back Berkshire errors.
Berkshire scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Shannon McGee was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Casey Sinkenbring’s single.
Independence broke it open with four runs in the fifth.
Maggie George singled, Pallini reached on a fielder’s choice and Mallory Trombetta reached on an error to load the bases. George scored on Ashley Caputo’s sacrifice fly and Sophia Trombetta walked to reload the bases. An error, a bases loaded walk and another Rega single pushed Independence’s lead to 8-1.
The Blue Devils added four runs in the seventh on four hits and an error. Pallini, who finished 2-for-5 with three runs batted in, had her second double of the game in the inning.
Defensively, Independence committed just one error to eight for the Badgers.
“We've got players like (shortstop) Katie George out there snagging up balls everywhere, “Ambrose said. “When we play solid defensively it really gets the girls going on the offensive end. They get excited. They want to do well when they play good defense.”
Maggie George also had two hits for Independence.
Makalha Ricci was 2-for-2 for Berkshire.
Independence improved to 7-4 overall and 4-2 in Chagrin Valley Conference play. The Blue Devils have won seven out of their last 10 games.
That’s the type of momentum Ambrose wants to see his team build heading into the postseason.
“I think we are,” Ambrose said when asked if the team is coming together at the right time. “We are building trust in every one of our fielders that they can field their positions and play well.”
Independence hosts Berkshire on Tuesday.
