OLYMPIA — Rochester remained undefeated in the summer league as the softball squad earned two wins in summer softball action here on Monday.
In the first game on Monday, Rochester defeated Black Hills 12-1 in five innings. Tori Smith pitched a complete game for Rochester, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out eight batters. She helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3.
Alyssa Hoffman was 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and three runs and LJ Smith was 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs. Kaylee Demers was 2-for-3 with a triple and Kassidy Byrd was also 2-for-3 with a double for Rochester.
It didn’t take long for Rochester to gain the lead with four runs in the first inning. The road team added three runs in the third inning and finished the game with five runs in the fifth.
“We saw some tougher pitching in the first game but the girls came alive and hit well. Alyssa led off the game with a home run,” Rochester coach Dave Montgomery said. “Later on she stretched a single into a double with her speed. She's a force at the plate and roaming the outfield. The rest of the team hit very well, they were unafraid at the plate.”
In the second game of the day, Rochester defeated Shelton 10-1 in four innings. Kassidy Byrd pitched a complete game for Rochester, allowing one hit, three walks and no earned runs while striking out three batters.
At the plate, Alyssa Hoffman had a hit, a run and a walk and Jessa Lenzi also added a double and a run.
Rochester scored 10 runs in the second inning to put the game away.
“We had one big, big inning in the second game. We were patient and hit the ball really hard when our opportunities came,” Montgomery said. “Kassidy was a little off to start but she's tough, made an adjustment, and pitched a really fine game. It was great to see that mental toughness.”
Montgomery gave kudos to LJ Smith and Sophia Hoffman for the work they put in behind the plate.
Rochester (6-0) will wrap up the summer with two games next Monday in Olympia.
