By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's softball team swept defending Class 3A state champion Rossville in convincing fashion on the Bulldawgs' home turf Monday night, winning 12-1 and 14-0.
Senior Avery Wende pitched a complete-game two-hitter in Silver Lake's 14-0 second-game win over Rossville Monday night. [File photo/TSN]
The Eagles combined dominant pitching with outbursts of offense to roll over their rival and improve to 8-0.
“I don’t know if there is any guarantee of how to predict what’s going to happen in (matchups between Rossville and Silver Lake),” said the Eagles coach Nick Hamilton. “I’ve been around this my whole life, and I know that on any given night either team could win. It’s that much of a rivalry.
“It’s good for both of us. I think that’s why there is such success on both sides. We both compete and push each other.”
In the first game of the doubleheader, pitcher Kendra Cook held the Bulldawgs down until the Silver Lake offense kicked in. The Eagles exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to blow the game open.
“Kendra has been solid in the ring for us,” Hamilton said. “She did a good job working in the offseason to improve on what she needed to improve.”
The Eagles’ offense jumped on Rossville early in the nightcap, posting nine runs in the second inning. MaKenzie McDaniel bashed two home runs to pace the offense. Contributing to the hit parade was Taylor Zordel, who picked up two singles, a double and a homer in the second game.
“I think we did a great job tonight. But we cannot be satisfied,” Zordel said. “We have a lot that we can still work on and compete with. But our offense felt really good. It did feel great to win tonight.”
“It’s patience and being competitive. We’re waiting for the right pitches,” Hamilton said of the Eagles’ offense. “I think we’ve got some confidence. I asked them to work on it in the offseason and with a lot of reps comes confidence.”
Shutting the Bulldawgs out through the shortened five-inning game was senior Avery Wende. She surrendered just two hits and struck out five.
“Avery went out there and pitched her heart out in what could be her last time to face (Rossville),” Hamilton said. “It’s a hard transition from facing Kendra to Avery because they pitch a little bit different. Avery has been an ace for us for four years.”
The Eagles recently claimed a double header over Basehor-Linwood. Later this week, they will face several Kansas City and Lawrence-area schools in a showcase event. Silver Lake graduate Hamilton said his team doesn’t shy away from challenges.
“I learned early from (Silver Lake) coaches that competition makes you better,'' Hamilton said. "It’s not so much about the winning. It’s about the process. I’m trying to pass that on to these girls.”
FIRST GAME
SILVER LAKE 12, ROSSVILLE 1
Silver Lake 002 060 4 — 12 11 1
Rossville 000 010 0 — 1 5 3
Cook and Swygert. Spielman, Hale (5), Henry and Horton. W — Cook. L — Spielman. 2B — Silver Lake: Cook, M. Kruger, Lowry. Rossville: Springer, Leathers, Burdieck.
SECOND GAME
SILVER LAKE 14, ROSSVILLE 0
Silver Lake (8-0) 093 02 — 14 13 0
Rossville (7-3) 000 00 — 0 2 1
Wende and Swygert. Hale, Spielman (2), Kenney (3), Henry and Horton, Leathers (3). W — Wende. L — Hale. 2B — Silver Lake: M. Kruger, Zordel. HR — Silver Lake: McDaniel 2, Zordel.
