SWITZERLAND – After a stunning loss the day before, Bartram Trail coach Jen Harman was looking to see how her team would respond from it 24 hours later.
She had to have liked what she saw as the Bears whipped Mandarin 12-0 in five innings at home to bounce back from a devastating loss with an offensive out poor.
Twenty four hours earlier, Middleburg stunned the host Bears 9-3 in a non district game leaving many in shock by the outcome but Harman knew her team was better than that and they proved it a day later.
Our Game of the Week featured No. 6 Mandarin and No. 1 Bartam Trail in a non district clash and it turned out to be anything but a showdown.
Bartram Trail roughed up Mandarin pitcher Ashley Wiebenga for 11 hits (12 total on the night) scoring all 12 runs with two outs.
Offensively, the Bears were led by Reedy Davenport (2 for 3 with 5 RBI), Maegan O’Brien (2 for 2 with a RBI), Savannah Parker (2 for 2 with 2 doubles and a RBI), Olivia Creamer (1 for 3 with 4 RBI), Emily Sikes (1 for 3), Haley Provencal (1 for 2), Riley Condon (2 for 3) and Anna Cowling (2 for 2).
Scoreless in the second inning, the Bears jumped on the Mustangs quickly in the bottom half, as with two outs Emma Morris walked, Condon followed with a single to left and Cowling RBI single to right scored Morris for a 1-0 lead.
With runners on second and third, Davenport sent a pitch deep over the center field fence for a three run home run and a 4-0 lead; while O’Brien followed with a walk and Parker delivered a RBI double to right for a 5-0 lead after two innings.
As good as the offense was the pitching of Hannah Dugan was just as impressive as she handcuffed the Mustangs offense allowing just two hits in four innings.
As the game progressed into the third inning, the Bears again unleashed a two out assault on Wiebenga as Provencal walked with one out, Condon followed with a single to left and Cowling texas leaguer to third loaded the bases with two outs.
Davenport drove a pitch into the left field gap scoring both Provencal and Condon for a 7-0 lead, while an errant throw by the left fielder Kaylee Beauford way over first base allowed Cowling to reach third and Davenport to second.
O’Brien RBI single in the infield allowed Cowling to score and Davenport to advance to third; while Parker drew a walk to load the bases.
Which set up the play of the game as Creamer, who struck out twice to end the first and second innings, stepped in the box and sent a shot over the center field fence for a grand slam and shocking 12-0 lead.
Down 12-0 in the fourth, the Mustangs tried to start a rally as Brianna Arsenault reached on a fielder choice and Megan Cusack singled to right to put runners on first and second with two out; however Dugan got out of the jam with a grounder to short to end the inning.
Dugan left the game after four innings and was replaced by Nicole Mansako who gave up two hits before retiring the final two batters to end the game.
Magical moment on and off the field today, she said YES ! pic.twitter.com/TPgOEEX076
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 7, 2018
The day turned out to be extra special for Olivia Creamer as her boyfriend asked her to prom after the game and she said excitedly said YES !!!
More importantly it allowed the Bears to regroup and put the stunning loss aside for a few days.
Bartram Trail coach Jen Harman on huge bounce back win last night pic.twitter.com/KZY7ugCBmh
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 7, 2018
Bartram Trail (15-2) opens St. Johns River Athletic Conference Tournament play Monday at 5 p.m. against Middleburg in the quarterfinals at Nease, with a chance to get revenge and also move into the semifinals as well.
Mandarin (16-4) earned a bye and will wait the winner of Ed White and Raines on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Baldwin in the Gateway Conference Tournament.
