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Alleman sweeps Rocky in softball

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By Shannon Heaton | Thursday, May 8, 2008 10:16 PM CDT | () comments

Rock Island Alleman’s youngsters might be as ready as they can be for the softball big time.

With three sophomores and two freshmen in the lineup — partially out of necessity because of depth issues resulting from players leaving the team and from injuries — Alleman cobbled together a sweep of Rock Island in Western Big Six Conference action Thursday at Rose Gemignani Memorial Field.

The Pioneers took 2-1 and 3-1 victories to clinch second place in the league at 8-2 (21-5 overall), and their ability to obtain clutch hits with two outs and two strikes proved key in the sweep.

“It doesn’t really seem like we’re all young ones. We all play at the same level, we all get along really well. Right now we’re kind of at a high point,” Alleman shortstop Jessica Gilliam said. “We’re doing the right things at the right times, doing really well (at the plate) with two strikes and two outs.

“It’s going pretty good right now.”

Gilliam’s two-strike double in the fifth inning of Game 1 tied the score at 1-1, and she scored two batters later in the byplay surrounding Ashley Schwenneker’s two-out single. In Game 2, Alleman — which already led 1-0 — picked up two huge insurance runs when Gilliam reached on an error with two outs in the fourth.

The timely hitting gave breathing room to Pioneers pitchers Amanda Lambrecht (9-2, 15 strikeouts in a first-game two-hitter) and Brittnee Ayers (5-3, eight strikeouts).

“We’re down on depth as it is, so we’re just trying to play the best we can. It’s no secret between them and us, anyway. There’s no surprises, so we just play,” Alleman coach Mike Ebner said.

Rocky pitcher Ayla Serrano was a workhorse despite taking two losses. Serrano struck out eight and walked one batter in 11 innings, giving up one earned run for the Rocks (13-12, 5-5 Big 6).

“Her ball was flattening out a bit, and we’re not going to let her get hit. We have confidence in (reliever) Lee (Sorrano, Ayla’s sister), and they didn’t score much off her when she came in,” Rock Island coach Steve Ebner said of the Serrano sisters. “Ayla is our horse, and we’ll ride her as long as we can.

Contact the sports desk at (563) 383-2285 or sports@qctimes.com.