Pioneers make it look easy

Jeff Tully

The Providence High softball team probably could have scored as many

runs as it wanted Tuesday against its over-matched opponent.

However, Pioneer Coach Maggie Boozel saw no redeeming value in

running up the score on Scotts Academy, a girls’ correctional

facility playing its first season of organized ball.

After taking an early lead after three innings, Boozel pulled most

of her starters and the Pioneers reserves were still able to coast to

a 16-6 nonleague victory. The game was called in the sixth inning

because of the 10-run mercy rule.

“We don’t get anything out of keeping our starters in for the

whole game and running up the score on them,” said Boozel, who is in

her first season. “Their coach even came up to me after the game and

thanked me for taking out my starters.

“I have to wonder what a coach gets out of beating a team, 25-0.

That is just bad for both teams.”

Along with sparing the Royals, Boozel said her team was able to

benefit from the mismatch.

“We were able to give a lot of our other players some playing time

today,” she said. “We were also able to work on some things I hope

will benefit us in our league games coming up.”

The Pioneers (8-2) -- ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section

Division VI -- travel to Catalina Island Friday for a pair of Liberty

League games against host Avalon.

“We will have a good practice [Wednesday] and get ready for tough

games against Avalon,” Boozel said.”

The Pioneers are defending Liberty League champions and are 1-0 in

league play.

Against Scott Academy (1-6), Providence hammered out 12 hits and

took an 8-0 lead after three innings.

Pioneer starter Candice Koeth (5-0) gave up a leadoff single to

Royals’ Shaday Garcia. However, she got out of the inning without

allowing a run.

Koeth was impressive the next two innings, striking out the side

in both the second and third.

On offense, Shannon Hayes helped the Pioneers score three runs in

the third inning on a three-run, in-the-park home run that rolled

away from the center fielder. Hayes also scored two runs.

Providence pushed across six runs in the fifth inning, spearheaded

by a three-run triple by Jessie Bonilla.