International & NPF

Scrap Yard Dogs Look Sharpe in 7-3 Win over Akron Racers

Scrap Yard Dawgs

AKRON, OH –  (By: Megan McEldowney)  The Akron Racers found themselves down quickly on Tuesday night and could never fully recover after the Scrap Yard Dawgs struck first for a 7-3 win at Firestone Stadium.

The Dawgs (19-13) came into the top of the first inning in full force, putting four runs on the board early. The Racers (19-14) barely got situated into their positions before left fielder Kiki Stokes led off for the Dawgs and blasted the fourth pitch of the game over the centerfield fence. Dawgs second baseman Nerissa Myers walked and designated player Madison Shipman reached on a fielder’s choice later in the inning, before first baseman Lexi Overstreet stepped up to the plate with two outs and smacked a three-run home run over centerfielder Taylor Schlopy (Georgia) to build upon the Dawgs lead at 4-0.

“We have to keep the ball in the park and not put people on,” said Racers coach Brian Levin. “When you do that you dig yourself a big hole, there was too big of a deficit to close.”

Laura Winter (Notre Dame) stepped into the circle after Overstreet’s home run and finished the game allowing three hits and three runs on two home runs.

“I think it’s working on our control a little bit,” Winter said, touching on limiting the long ball. “We have gone seven of eight days in a row so we are a little tired and let things loose a little bit too much and I think we need to reel it back in.”

The Racers answered back with one run in the bottom of the first inning after Schlopy and third baseman Kelley Montalvo (Alabama) drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Designated player Sam Fischer (Loyola-Marymount) shot a hard ground ball to shortstop Christian Stokes, who tried to get Schlopy out at home, but was too late with the throw as the Racers cut the deficit to 4-1.

Kiki Stokes belted her second home run of the game in the top of the second inning, that also scored centerfielder Emily Crane to extend the Dawgs lead to 6-1.

The Akron Racers kept up a fight in the bottom of the fourth inning when right fielder Cassie Tysarczyk (Texas A&M) hit a homerun to right field that plated Sandra Simmons (Louisiana State) to make the score 6-3.

“The mindset is chip away,” Tysarczyk said. “Sandra did a good job of surprising the defense with that soft slap and honestly I just kind of went up there thinking base hit and I happened to be underneath an off-speed pitch that happened to carry over (the fence).”

The Dawgs added one more insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Myers shot a home run

The Racers will be back tomorrow night at Firestone Stadium to finish off the series with the Scrap Yard Dawgs at 12:05 p.m. Contact the Akron Racers ticket office at 330-376- 8188 or online at www.akronracers.org for ticket information.

About the Akron Racers

The Akron Racers, headquartered in Akron, OH, are the oldest existing team in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league, celebrating their 15th Season of Play in 2016.  The Racers competed in the Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL) for two seasons in 1999 and 2000 and in the NPF since 2004.  Historic Firestone Stadium is home to the Racers and numerous amateur events at all levels of play.

 

About National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), an Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball since 2002, provides elite female athletes with an opportunity to pursue a professional career in diamond sports beyond their collegiate success.  The 2016 NPF season will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Coverage includes the NPF College Draft presented by Bownet on Thur., April 14, followed by 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special and the 2016 NPF Championship Series.  The NPF recently announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs, located in The Woodlands, Texas, will join the Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Dallas Charge, Pennsylvania Rebellion and USSSA Florida Pride for the 2016 season. National Pro Fastpitch players hail from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand, representing the most accomplished and talented athletes in the sport of women’s softball.

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