CHARLOTTESVILLE — Conference wins are always important and good ones to add to the record.
When they’re stress-free they’re even sweeter.
And when they include a combined no-hitter, they’re near perfect.
Tatem Adams and Kenna Stewart did just that on Thursday night in Eastern Hancock’s (6-1, 3-0) 10-0 six-inning win at home over Mid-Eastern Conference foe Wapahani (5-3, 2-1).
“These wins are phenomenal,” Eastern Hancock head coach David Trackwell said. “When you can come out and relax and just play your game, it takes off from what’s already stressful.”
Adams got the start in the circle for the Royals and was lights out over four innings.
After walking the second hitter of the game, she retired the next 11. From the last batter of the second inning to the second batter of the fourth, she struck out six straight Wapahani hitters. On the night, she struck out eight.
At the start of the fifth, she was replaced by Stewart, who closed out the no-hitter. Over two innings of work, she walked one and struck out four.
Of the 20 Wapahani batters, only two reached base, and 12 of the 18 recorded outs were strikeouts.
“A combined no-hitter, some people would ask, ‘Why did you take Tatem out and not let her complete the game?’ Our focus is on the bigger picture,” Trackwell said. “I want both pitchers to be less stressed and have less wear and tear on their arms and to be ready for sectional time. We have the bigger picture in mind, and we’re not really chasing stats.”
While those two handled things in the top half of each inning, the Royals offense went to work in the bottom half.
In the first, they scored three runs on a trio of singles.
Sammie Bolding singled and stole second and third base before being brought home by an Addisyn Trackwell single.
A Lilli Ringer single moved Trackwell to third base before a wild pitch from Wapahani starting pitcher Zoey Koger allowed her to score. The final run of the inning came on an Emily Hodges sacrifice fly.
In the third, the Royals added two more runs, sparked by a Trackwell leadoff double. After stealing third, she scored on a Cameron Spegal sacrifice fly, and after being hit by a pitch, stealing second, and moving to third on the sac fly, Ringer scored on an error for the second run of the frame.
In the following inning, the Royals put up another three-spot on just one hit. A Brooklyn Willis single started it off. She stole two bases and scored on a passed ball, Bolding did the same after reaching base on a walk, and Trackwell walked and later came around to score without the Royals recording another hit.
On the night, Eastern Hancock stole 14 bases. Bolding had four, Trackwell had three, Ringer, Willis, and Hodges each had two, and Emree Truitt had one.
“We like to play aggressive, take advantage, and constantly apply pressure,” coach Trackwell said. “It’s a small diamond, so the more pressure we can apply, the more room there is for the other teams to make errors.”
The Royals finished the game on the 10-run mercy rule in the sixth inning with a pair of runs.
Ringer walked to lead off the frame and later scored on another Wapahani passed ball, and Truitt scored Hodges with a sacrifice fly to end the game.
Eastern Hancock is back in action Friday at 5:30 p.m. on the road at Triton Central.
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Eastern Hancock 10, Wapahani 0
Wapahani (5-3, 2-1);000;000;—;0;0;1
Eastern Hancock (6-1, 3-0);302;302;—;10;8;0
Zoey Koger, Tatum Dudley (3) and Briley Kahalekomo; Tatem Adams, Kenna Stewart (5) and Camryn Blue. 2B: EH – Addisyn Trackwell. WP: Adams (2-1). LP: Koger (2-1).
