Donovan hurls gem as Bulldogs blast Redskins

CELINA - A nasty collision and an ejection left the Celina softball team without its top two hitters after the first inning of Monday's game with St. Henry.

It didn't stop the Bulldogs, however, from winning their first-ever game at Varsity Diamond/Jim Hoess Field.

Melody Donovan struck out 12 and her teammates lit up the scoreboard for a combined nine runs in the third and fourth innings en route to an 11-2 victory over the Redskins in non-conference play.

"What we talked about beforehand was the legacy and what's taken place to get here to this point, and the girls are part of history," Celina coach Nicole Driggs said.

Melody Donovan, who tallied six strikeouts through the first two frames, gave up one earned run, five hits and walked just two.

"She hit her spots and I thought she really stepped up to the challenge today," Driggs said.

The Bulldogs (1-0) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Carly Post led off with a bunt single and then moved to third on a pair of passed balls. She later scored on a grounder by Callie Vogel, who was ejected for making contact with the first baseman. That meant Celina was without the meat of its batting order. Cleanup hitter Stephanie Walter was done for the day after an outfield collision with a teammate in the top of the first.

The Redskins (0-1) had stranded runners in each of the first two innings. They finally broke through and tied the game in the third on Cara Brockman's RBI double, which scored Heather Heitkamp, who had hit an infield single with one out.

It was all Celina from that point on.

Post led the home third with her second bunt single of the night. She later scored on a fielder's choice by Bailey Laux. Brooke Steinbrunner began a two-out scoring spree with an RBI triple. Melody Donovan followed with an infield single RBI and then Maddy Luebke scored her by ripping a double over the center fielder's head. Mackenzie Shaffer capped the scoring with an RBI single to put Celina ahead 6-1.

After reaching base safely for a third consecutive time via a walk in the fourth, Post scored on a passed ball. Maria Donovan hit a single and later scored on a passed ball. Steinbrunner continued her assault with an RBI double and scored on a fielder's choice by Melody Donovan.

And Melody Donovan kept the St. Henry bats quiet the rest of the way.

"We could not get the bat on the ball. We had a few good hits, but nothing that was going to send us ahead or give us enough to make it much of a game," St. Henry coach Kylie Huelsman said. "Really it was just a lack of communication. We had a lot of young girls playing, but that's not really an excuse. It just was lack of communication, not being aware of where the ball was and what to do.

"We struggled on the bat. Their batters were aggressive and their runners were aggressive. We've just got to take that and learn from it," she added.

Steinbrunner went 2-for-2 for three RBIs and three runs. Post was 2-for-2 with three runs for Celina, which totaled nine hits in the win.

"I was very happy with the way our bats were looking," Driggs said. "St. Henry comes out and they're always aggressive at the plate and aggressive on defense. I told the girls that they're going to have a great pitcher and we're going to have to attack the ball. ... It was just a great first game."

Brockman led the way at the dish for St. Henry with two doubles and two RBIs. Heather Heitkamp went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Both teams play again today. Celina travels to face Minster and St. Henry goes to Fairlawn.