Liberty crushes Islanders 17-1
May 5, 2009
By Jim Feehan
Jen Rucker, Liberty runner, slides safely into second base, extending a single into a double, during the fourth inning of the Patriots’ 17-1 win against Mercer Island.
Liberty High School’s fastpitch softball team scored early and often to top Mercer Island 17-1 April 29. The Patriots scored six runs in the first inning and seven runs in the third to crush the Islanders in a mercy-rule shortened game.
A mercy rule brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team. The KingCo League uses the 10-run, five inning standard, meaning if one team is ahead by 10 runs after five innings, the game is over.
Liberty scored in every inning on the way to an easy 3A/2A KingCo Conference victory. Alexis Court went 2-3 with two runs and three RBIs. Ana Faoro had 2-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Marissa Jeffers was 2-2 with three runs and three RBIs. Jennifer Rucker went 2-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Taylor Weik was 2-3 with three runs.
The win was Liberty’s fourth in a row in conference play.
“They’re fighters,” said Liberty coach Jessica Johnson. “The team has gone through a lot of adversity with a lot of injuries this year and we’ve had to make a lot of adjustments, and they just keep pushing through.”
Amber Smith allowed one earned run and struck out five in picking up the win for the Patriots.
“She did have a good outing,” Johnson said.
Smith also pitched in the April 16 truncated 20-0 blowout against Mercer Island. She recorded seven strikeouts in that game against the Islanders.
On March 30, the Patriots had another blowout victory when they steamrolled Hazen 22-2. Liberty closes out its regular season at home May 8 against Bellevue.
“This team has a lot of heart,” Johnson said. “Their talent is following their hearts right now.”
Eagles pitch two shutouts
Issaquah, tied with Redmond for first place in the 4A KingCo Crest Division, tossed two shutouts last week.
Issaquah blanked Garfield 10-0 April 28 and Inglemoor 2-0 April 29.
In the victory against Inglemoor, pitcher Mikenzie Voves had eight strikeouts and just one walk. Molly Nelson and Kelly Richards each had two hits for Issaquah.
In the Garfield game, pitcher Brianna Bray tossed a two-hitter and helped her cause with three hits. Kenna Olsen drove in three runs for the Eagles, who began this week with a 9-2 record.
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