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BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
Sydney Haughs and Emma Howdeshell each singled and homered, and Kylie Coleman had a double and two RBIs as the host Rochester softball team routed Whitko 12-1 in five innings in their Three Rivers Conference opener at Fansler Field April 19.
Mia Howdeshell and Emma Howdeshell combined on a three-hitter in the circle for the Lady Zs. Addie Garr homered off Mia Howdeshell in the top of the fourth, but by then, Rochester had a double-digit lead.
Haughs had four RBIs, and Howdeshell had two RBIs.
Aubrey Miller also had two hits and an RBI for Rochester. Fellow freshman Mylee Heinzmann had a triple and a run scored. Kallie Watson also had a hit and an RBI.
Whitko committed three errors that led to six unearned runs for Rochester.
Rochester scored three runs off Whitko starter Cassidy Skinner in the first inning and never trailed. They added five more in the second and four in the third.
“We came out and really, really pushed that first inning,” Rochester first-year coach Jime Coleman said. “Emma getting on, Coleman with a double to center and Haughs back up through the middle. That first inning definitely was key for us and a great start for us.”
This was the teams’ first meeting since Whitko ousted Rochester 4-2 in last year’s sectional semifinal. Whitko would eventually advance to the 2022 semistate. Though the teams are both still in Class 2A, they were assigned to different sectionals for the next two springs.
Mia Howdeshell allowed three hits and one run in four innings. She walked one and struck out two. Coach Coleman said he emphasized throwing first-pitch strikes to Mia, both in this game and for the rest of the season.
“It’s a big one for us,” coach Coleman said. “To start conference with a win and against Whitko, for us, it was a big win.”
Rochester 12, Whitko 1 (5 innings)
Whitko 000 10 – 1 3 3
Rochester 354 0X – 12 9 1
WP – Mia Howdeshell (4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
LP – Cassidy Skinner (2 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
2B – Kylie Coleman (RHS)
3B – Mylee Heinzmann (RHS)
HR – Addie Garr (WHI), Emma Howdeshell (RHS), Sydney Haughs (RHS)
