Dayton's Cole dominant in win over Lowry

DAYTON - Lowry came into Friday's game against Dayton with the philosophy that all its batters should stand on top of the front side of the batter's box. The thought was that Dust Devils' pitcher Mackenzie Cole was a rise-ball pitcher and the move would place the batters ahead of the rise and make the ball easier to hit.

Consider that theory debunked.

The junior dominated from the circle in a 1-0 ballgame with 13 strikeouts and didn't let the Buckaroos put a ball in play until the second batter of the fourth inning, a ground out to second.

Additionally, her only hit allowed came on an infield single that the batter just barely beat out.

"I think they were thinking that she didn't have that many pitches," Dayton coach Daven Passalacqua said. "...I think we kind of shocked them with that other stuff."

On the rare occasion that Lowry did make contact with a rise-ball pitch, it popped out three times on weakly hit balls.

"For the most part, she started off the game great like always," Dayton catcher Natasha Wells said. "I had not doubt in her what so ever, never do actually. We work as a team; I've known her forever."

Even with dominant pitching from Cole, the offense struggled to put batters on base. The Dust Devils managed just three hits in the game and scored its only run off of a bases-loaded walk. Wells led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and was followed by Lindsie Cross who was hit on the foot with a pitch. Taylor Hays dropped down a sacrifice bunt to the move the runners and Cole was hit in the foot by a pitch as well. Cheyenna Burrows drew a walk and Wells scored.

Dayton had an opportunity to capitalize on the Buckaroos' mistakes, but Danea Detweiler hit into a double play to the end inning on a hard-hit ball back to the pitcher.

"I did want, of course, to get more runs for the pitcher," Passalacqua said. "That relieves a pitcher a little to have some runs to sit on, but she handles pressure pretty well. She stays focused incredibly well."

Lowry showed some aggressiveness on the base paths in their only opportunity. Hana Etcheverry earned Lowry's lone hit on a grounder to third. She attempted to steal second and Wells overthrew the base for an error. Etcheverry reached third and tried to make it home on the play, but Wells received the relay and tagged her out four feet from the plate.

It was the first Northern 3A league game for Lowry, who is now 6-2 on the year. Dayton improved to 2-0 in league and 4-3 on the year. The two teams will face each other again today for a doubleheader, which begins at 11 a.m. at Dayton High School.