Softball: Tori Burke nearly unhittable for Bartlett

Updated: April 4, 2012 9:04PM

Everything was going Tori Burke’s way Wednesday in Bartlett’s 9-0 Upstate Eight Conference softball win over Batavia.

“Her rise ball was dancing and she kept them off balance with her movement,” Hawks’ coach Jim Wolfsmith said of his senior pitcher. “And they’ve been scoring some runs. And we know how a hitter like Katie Ryan is.”

The junior center fielder, last year’s Beacon News Player of the Year after belting 18 home runs, had the hosts’ lone hit in the game when she ripped a single that glanced off Burke’s glove and scooted into center field to break up the no-hit bid in the fourth.

“I just came in focused. I was up for this game,” said Burke. “I was just able to come out here and feel it.”

Burke, who struck out 10 batters and walked two, faced just two over the minimum and lifted her record to 4-2 for the 7-2, 2-0 Hawks. Junior catcher Kaylyn Zierke who has verbally committed to Temple University, erased one of those runners in the second. She picked Katie Neubauer off second, throwing behind her several pitches after she had stolen the base.

Burke was also a terror at the plate, ripping a two-run triple to right center in the visitors’ four-run first inning and adding a two-run single in the third when they erupted for five more off starter and loser Katie Coleman, who settled down and followed with two scoreless innings.

“My rise ball kept them off balance all game and when that wasn’t working I threw my curveball to make them think,” said Burke.

Bartlett hitters, one day after rallying from a 4-0 deficit to edge Elgin and Hannah Perryman by a run, came out on fire. They ripped nine of their 10 hits in the first three innings and had several hard-hit balls in the scoreless second, thanks to a lineout to third that went for a double play.

“Facing someone like Perryman yesterday, who was hitting 62 miles-per-hour, was a factor,” said Wolfsmith. “(Coleman) was down (in velocity) a little bit and we came out more confident at the plate, We did a great job early before (Coleman) was able to get into a rhythm and get her movement going.”

The day before, Batavia had pounded out a 21-2 conference win over East Aurora. The Bulldogs are now 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the league.

“That shouldn’t make a difference and it shouldn’t be an excuse,” said Batavia coach Ashley Szymski. “It’s varsity softball and you have to come out ready to play. I’m glad Katie (Coleman) settled down. They were hitting the ball solidly early on.

“Our girls said (Burke) had some interesting movement on her ball.”

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