By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
STRYKER (April 22, 2025) – The Pettisville Blackbirds put on a dominant hitting performance against the Stryker Panthers, securing the win against a league opponent.
The scoring started in the first for the Blackbirds, when Macy Holyman drilled an RBI triple, plating Olivia Miller. Naomi Richer immediately followed with an RBI single to right, bringing home Holyman.
Grace Hastings wrapped up the first inning scoring for the Blackbirds with an RBI single to center, bringing in Richer. The score was 3-0 by the end of the inning.
The Panthers first inning only saw three batters, with a strikeout and then a line out into a double play to end the inning.
The second inning is when the Blackbirds broke the game wide open. They scored 13 runs in the inning, showing their true dominance in the batter’s box.
Contributions came from almost everyone in the lineup. Kelsey Bennett started the scoring run with a double, plating Jalyssa Molina. Bailey Booth and Hastings followed with RBI singles on back to back at bats.
At this point, the score was 8-0, but Stryker secured the second out of the inning, looking to stop the bleeding the best they could.
Instead, Pettisville went on an impressive two out rally. Abbi Opdycke reached base on an error, bringing home Hastings. An RBI triple from Bennett saw the lead grow to 11-0.
Bennett would cross the plate on a wild pitch. Richer would follow with an RBI double, helping the Blackbirds continue to pour it on.
Booth and Hastings, who both had RBI singles at the top of the inning, both had RBI singles to end the inning, with the lead being 16-0 by the innings end.
The Panthers followed with a three up and three down second inning, struggling to find any momentum.
The Blackbirds continued building their lead in the third. Holyman brought in two runners with an RBI single. Richer then plated Miller, bringing the lead to 19-0.
A groundout and a sacrifice bunt produce two more runs, bringing the Blackbirds lead to a whopping 21-0.
Stryker saw another three up and three down inning, but it was not for a lack of effort. Holyman and Natalie Moden were dominant on the mound, keeping the Panthers batters off balance all night long.
The fourth inning saw Pettisville score its final three runs, with an RBI single from Moden that plated Keren Maldonado and Molina.
A groundout from Alissa Vandeberghe brought in the Blackbirds final run of the game, Kendall Vickery.
The Panthers secured their first run of the game in the fourth inning. Tara Noble reached base on an error, which brought home Kayla Fultz.
In the fifth, Fultz drilled an RBI single to right, but due to an untimely throw by Pettisville’s Sienna Sierra, Fultz was able to reach home plate as well.
With the win, the Blackbirds remain undefeated in league play. They look to continue their winning ways against Edon on Thursday. The Panthers look to bounce back against Holgate.
PHS 313 53 – 24 17 3
SHS 000 12 – 3 2 5
Records: PHS 8-4, 3-0 BBC; SHS 0-6, 0-3 BBC
WINNING PITCHER: Holyman (2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: Brenner (2 innings, 14 hits, 16 runs, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Pettisville) Bennett – triple, double, 3 RBIs; Holyman – triple, 2 singles, 3 RBIs; Richer – 2 doubles, single, 4 RBIs; Hastings – 3 singles, 4 RBIs; (Stryker) Fultz – 2 singles, RBI