April 8, 2010, Game Two against Junction City at Whittier Park, third inning.
Remember that date, game and inning, because in a couple years when looking back on Emporia High softball, that might be the exact moment that the program can pinpoint as when it all started to turn around.
The Spartans scored seven runs in the third inning of Game Two on Thursday and went on to a 10-0 run-rule victory in six innings, bouncing back from an 8-0 loss in the season-opening Game One.
All EHS softball has known for a long time has been losing. The Spartans won just two games last year; they had a 13-70 record in the last four years.
So a win, by run rule no less, was pretty sweet for the Spartans and their new coach Mike Strickland.
“It’s bigger just for the girls, to show them that the hard work they’re putting in right now and the time that it’s taking, hard work is paying off for them,” Strickland said. “They’re starting to buy into our system and what we’re doing and teamwork and everything else, and it’s just good to see the girls working hard and buying into working together.”
Not only has Strickland’s presence been felt by the Spartans, but an influx of some new talent has also paid dividends.
Freshman Emily Giffin provided a big bat, great pitching and some hope for the future with her performance in Game Two.
Kandice Schreiner started the second game and got through the first inning without giving up a run despite walking the bases loaded. Schreiner walked the first batter in the second, and Strickland went to Giffin.
The freshman pitched five scoreless innings to pick up her first win. She did not give up a hit until the fifth, and she did not allow a baserunner in three of her five innings.
The one time Giffin did get in trouble, when Junction City loaded the bases on three straight singles, Giffin got a strikeout and nonchalantly caught a liner back to the mound to end the inning.
“She’s played a lot of softball and she handles the pressure real well,” Strickland said.
Giffin also provided the Spartan with some pop offensively, driving in five runs with a three-run double in the third and a two-run single in the sixth that ended the game.
Emporia had only four hits in Game One and had only one baserunner reach in the first two innings of Game Two, but that all changed in the third inning.
The Spartans drew four walks, had four hits and took advantage of three Junction City errors and some indecisive plays in the field.
“The big thing with any game, if you can capitalize on the mistakes the other team makes, get some hits in there also, that’s exactly what we took advantage of,” Strickland said.
The same could be said for how Junction City won the first game, taking advantage of four Emporia errors, two of which came during a five-run third inning.
In Game Two, the Spartans did not commit one error.
“The second game we played really good defense, the girls took care of the ball and they settled down a little bit,” Strickland said. “In between games, we talked about we’re going to try to control our own destiny this year. I want the girls to control the ball and control the way we act each and every pitch. We talk about playing the game the same way all day long, and the girls handled it well the second game.”
Strickland called Game Two a team win. Giffin was great on the mound, but she only had three strikeouts and she did have to rely a lot on her defense, which backed up her up flawlessly.
Offensively, senior first baseman Hannah Lynch led the Spartans with four hits. She had two singles in Game One and two doubles in Game Two. Giffin was the only other Spartan with a multi-hit game in only her second high school game.
Giffin acted like her performance was no big deal, but this win was a big deal to the Spartans and their fans, and most likely a sign that things are about to change.
“I know the freshmen group has a lot of talent,” Giffin said, “and that building up with all the upperclassmen really works well together.”
Thursday at Whittier Park
Game One
Junction City 005 001 2 — 8 6 1
Emporia 000 000 0 — 0 4 4
WP — Schmidt. LP — Huth.
2B — JC: Schmidt 2; EHS: Belford.
Game Two
Junction City 000 000 — 0 3 5
Emporia 007 003 — 10 6 0
WP — Giffin. LP — Peck.
2B — EHS: Lynch 2, Giffin.