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Whittier bats quiet

HAVERHILL — Maybe it's the recent cold weather, but the Whittier Tech bats are in a softball slump.

 For the second straight game, the Wildcats couldn't get anything going on offense, falling to Lowell Catholic, 3-1.

Whittier managed just four hits — all singles — and have scored just one run in the last two games despite returning four players who hit at least .397 last year.

"Right now we're just trying to find our bats," said Whittier coach Cheryl Begin. "We're struggling a little bit. This isn't a position we wanted to be in (2-2). We were hoping to be 4-0."

If it's any consolation, Lowell Catholic is a formidable opponent. The Crusaders were 18-4 last year  and returned ace pitcher Brianna Riley. And they applied pressure by scoring two runs in the top of the first on a walk, infield hit and two-RBI single by Amanda Bursey.

Trailing 3-0, the Wildcats did get a in the sixth when Kaley Thibault led off with a walk and Kayle Hobbs delivered a two-out RBI single, but that was all they could muster.

The first four batters in the batting order were just 1 for 12 after going 1 for 10 against Gloucester.

On the positive side, Whittier junior Nicole Verrette pitched well, allowing just six hits while striking out 11, Kaley Thibault was on base twicw on walks and made a nice defensive grab at third base on a hard line drive and Hobbs hit the ball hard all three times up.

Freshman shortstop Alicia Habib had a walk and hit two line drives for outs.

Whittier will try to heat up at the plate Monday for a key Commonwealth Conference game against Essex Tech.