Needing a loss from Fort LeBoeuf to claim an outright region title, the Warren softball team keeps doing what it must do in the interim.
Winning.
The Dragons (15-1) remained tied with Fort LeBoeuf atop the region standings after a 10-0 victory over visiting Mercyhurst Prep Saturday at Hawbaker Field in the Farm Colony Complex, North Warren.
Article Photos
Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Jaimie Eaton
Warren beat the Bison on April 9, but suffered their first and only loss of the season two weeks ago. Since then, the Dragons have clipped off four straight victories, including Saturday's six-inning triumph over the Lakers.
"I was pleased with the way we came out of the gate today," said Warren coach Mark Bupp. "We scored three runs in the first two innings and that gave us the gap we needed early. I was extremely happy with our baserunning as well. We were aggressive, but smart and we worked that to our advantage several times."
Bupp said that Taylor Mineweaser continues to provide an offensive spark for the Dragons. On Saturday, Mineweaser had a key two-run triple in the second inning and finished 1-of-2 with a team-best three RBI.
Fact Box
MERCYHURST (0): ab-r-h-rbi: Clark, 1b, 2-0-0-0, Skarupski, c, 2-0-0-0, Czerwinski, cf, 2-0-0-0, Bitters, p, 3-0-0-0, Fitzmaurice, 2b, 2-0-0-0, Wojanowski, ss, 2-0-0-0, Curtis, rf, 2-0-0-0, Barbale, 3b, 2-0-0-0, Rutkowski, lf, 1-0-0-0, Plott, lf, 1-0-1-0, Totals: 19-0-1-0
WARREN (10): ab-r-h-rbi: Ishman, 2b, 4-1-1-0, Eaton, ss, 4-2-2-1, Bupp, p, 3-1-2-0, Hultquist, rf, 3-1-1-0, Blair, lf, 3-2-2-2, Bevevino, 3b, 2-2-1-1, Loutzenhiser, 1b, 2-1-0-2, Mineweaser, dp, 2-0-1-3, Walter, cf, 2-0-0-0, Latimer, ph, 1-0-0-0, Williams, c, 0-0-0-0, Totals: 26-10-10-9
Mercyhurst Prep 000 000 - 0 1
Warren 120 241 - 10 10
2b-Eaton (W). 3b-Mineweaser (W), Ishman (W), Blair (W). WP-Bupp. LP-Bitters.
Junior varsity game
Mercyhurst Prep 6 10
Warren 10 12
2b-Meghan?McIntyre (W), Valerie Latimer (W) 2. 3b-Meghan Loutzenhiser. WP-Loutzenhiser. LP-Clark.
Erica Blair and Meghan Loutzenhiser - substituting for an absent Rachel Hasselman - also delivered two RBI while Jaimie Eaton and Sam Bevevino were also able to drive home runs.
Eaton, Alexa Bupp and Blair all belted out two hits. Blair, Mineweaser and Kaitlin Ishman tripled and Eaton had a walkoff double in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via the mercy rule.
"Erica (Blair) had a nice day at the plate and we had girls step up all over the roster," added Bupp. "That was certainly nice to see."
Alexa Bupp was her ever dominant self on the mound, allowing just one Lakers single in the top of the sixth inning. She was able to strike out 12 in six innings while walking just two. At one point, Bupp fanned seven straight batters between the third and fifth innings.
The Dragons will try to close out the regular season strong with a pair of games this week. Warren hosts Strong Vincent on Tuesday in a game that will serve as Senior Recognition and Softball Appreciation Day before closing out the regular season Thursday at home with Corry.
Warren won the JV game, 10-6. Valerie Latimer was 3-for-4 with two doubles in the win.