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Salem bats erupt again

DERRY —There's something new and something old about this year's Salem softball team.

As in the past, the Blue Devils are among the elite teams in New Hampshire. In fact, after yesterday's 18-2 romp over Pinkerton, they're currently the only unbeaten Division 1 team with a 7-0 record.

What's new is how Salem is winning. For the most part, it has reigned supreme over the years with outstanding pitching and solid defense. The pitching and defense have been just fine thus far, but it's the offense that has been out of this world.

In seven games, the Blue Devils have averaged 15 runs per game, hitting double digits five times and cracking 20 runs twice.

"This is a little different for me,' said Salem coach Harold Sachs. "Typically, I get comfortable because of our defense and pitching, but our hitting has been amazing. I really didn't see this coming.

"We've had teams hit before but up and down the lineup has been incredible so far — hitting for power and a lot of line drives."

Even the players have been surprised, but captain Rachel Denning has a simple explanation for the hitting barrage.

"I think hitting is contagious," said Denning. "I think we're so positively energized and when one of is hitting, it rubs off."

Denning hat the biggest hit of the day yesterday, the first grand slam of her career, in the fourth inning yesterday, giving the Devils their final runs and assuring that the game would end after five innings because of the mercy rule.

For the day, Denning was only 1 for 1 because she can't crack the starting lineup. But, on this team, she's not complaining.

"I think it's where we fit in," said Denning. "I play a lot as the courtesy runner because the coaches say I'm fast, and we're all contributing."

 That was the case against Pinkerton as six players had at least two hits, including sophomores Ashley Conway (4 for 4) and Mikayla Pacy (2 for 4) in the eighth and ninth spots. Both had three RBIs yesterday and, in the last two games, Conway is  8 for 8 and Pact is 4 for 7.

Also against Pinkerton, leadoff batter Amanda Bickford was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and sophomore Holly Peterson was 2 for 2 with three runs scored.

"I knew we had some good young hitters but our offense has really surprised me," said senior captain Brittany Wallace, who was 2 for 4 yesterday.

Lost in the hitting parade was a fine performance by starting pitcher Rachel Towler who got her third win of the season with relief from Meghan O'Brien.

The Blue Devils, who have played six of their first seven games on the road, should get a stern test or two next week. They play a solid Dover team Tuesday and will travel to defending state champion Timberlane next Friday.