Hawthorne Softball Off to a Perfect Start

Written by: Jennifer Blardonis and Jori Rzepecki

Video by: Andrea Castiblanco

The Hawthorne Hornets softball team held on to a perfect 3-0 start to the season defeating the St. Francis Wolves 15-9 Thursday night.

Hornets Eager to Remain Undefeated

The St. Francis Wolves began the game with a 4-2 lead by the end of the second inning.

In the top of the third, Hawthorne’s Madisyn Gillins pitched an impressive 3-up 3-down inning, striking out three Wolves.

The Wolves’ momentum suffered due to some errors in the bottom of the third, resulting in a 4-4 game.

As the game progressed, the momentum shifted towards the Hawthorne Hornets. They capitalized on pitching changes made by the Wolves in the bottom of the fourth. The Hornets scored four runs, taking a commanding 8-4 lead and putting pressure on the Wolves to make a comeback.

Undeterred, the Wolves fought back. St. Francis scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning and narrowed the gap to just two runs. The Hornets remained powerful, scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fifth and extending their lead to 11-6.

Wolves attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs and bringing the score to 11-9. But, the Hornets’ offense proved too strong. They responded with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, ultimately securing the victory over the Wolves.

3 runs scored by Alvarez hit! pic.twitter.com/M8WAL13fD0

— Regan Staudt (@ReganStaudt) March 3, 2023

Pitching Change Made the Difference

The Hornets credit the comeback to their pitcher switch in the bottom of the second.

The change from Hawthorne’s Kaelyn Williams to Madisyn Gillins switched up the flow of the game.

“Madisyn (Gillins) got up there,” Hawthorne Assistant Coach Sinatra Williams said, “She’s a more powerful pitcher than Kaelyn (Williams). Madisyn overpowered them for the innings she was up there.”

As the season progresses, Williams will have her time to shine on the mound. Despite being a seventh-grader on a varsity squad, Williams currently holds the highest batting average on the team, with a 0.778. She has a bright future ahead of her. When asked about her future, Coach Williams said, “She has been playing a lot of travel ball. She has been around softball for a long time and is very knowledgeable about the game.”

Wolves Still on the Hunt For a Win

Despite the loss, the Wolves showed determination throughout the game and never gave up. The Hornets were able to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and hold off the Wolves’ comeback attempts.

“We have got to play better defense, not make so many errors,” St. Francis Head Coach Kris McDaniel said, “I think we held our walks to a minimum…and definitely the errors. They just pile on, giving them extra opportunities.”

St. Francis is still looking for their first win of the season. They will face Eastside High School at home on Monday night.