Carey blanks Crestline to stay unbeaten in Northern 10

CRESTLINE – The Carey Blue Devils are quietly hanging around in the Northern 10 Conference race.

Pitching and defense have been a big part of the Blue Devils' early success, as Crestline witnessed first-hand.

Sophomore Dani Berardinelli-Clark allowed just one hit as Carey blanked the Bulldogs, 7-0, to stay undefeated in the N10.

"Our defense always plays consistently behind her," Carey coach Teresa Jacoby said. "The defense has been playing well all year. That really helps the pitcher."

The offense scratched out a run off Crestline starter Caylee Jackson in the top of the first inning. Sydney Wentling walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error.

With the Bulldogs being held in check by Berardinelli-Clark, that was all the Blue Devils really needed.

"We always hit the ball, but you're not always going to be on it," Crestline coach Jackie Flinders said. "This is the first time we haven't scored this year."

Wentling scored the second run of the game when she led off the third with a double and came home on a one-out single by Felicite Smith. Wentling tallied four of the seven runs Carey (5-2, 3-0 N10) scored.

"She's been our lead-off hitter all year," Jacoby said of Wentling. "We like to get her on and get her around. She has good speed."

The Blue Devils put the game away with a three-run fourth. Carey bunched four hits, including a double by Taehlor Niederkohr. Wentling drove in two with a single.

Jackson went the first four innings for Crestline (2-7, 1-6), with one strikeout and two walks. The southpaw was touched for five runs. Sarah Toy went the final three innings, surrendering two runs, with five strikeouts and three walks.

Madison Huber got the only hit for the Bulldogs, a one-out single in the third.

"It's hard to string a couple of runs (against Berardinelli-CLark)," Flinders said. "But that is contagious. We just didn't come through."

Berardinelli-Clark was not overpowering but kept the hitters off balance. She retired 14 of the last 15 batters she faced, the only runner coming on a one-out error in the seventh.

Niederkohr led the Carey offense with three hits, with two doubles. Smith and Wentling each had a pair of hits, while Abby Hall, Berardinelli-Clark, Leah Kuhlman and Ashley Draper all singled.

"We're trying to teach them to wait back, especially with two strikes," Jacoby said. "Early in the count, they can go for it. But with two strikes, wait back and put a bat on it."

The Bulldogs made contact, but only managed six base runners, two hit-by-pitch, one hit, one walk and two errors.

"They started to wait on the pitch, they adjusted to it," Flinders said. "We didn't. We struggle with that, especially when we're down.

"The good thing about spring sports is you come back and play tomorrow," Flinders added. "The record doesn't show it but this is one of the best teams I've ever coached."

dmessers@nncogannett.com

Twitter: @TF_Schmidt

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