Neither rain nor wind nor cold could dampen the spirit Thursday of Westminster Christian softball coach John Wedell.
“It’s a great day to play two, huh?” Wedell said. “It’s always a good day when you win two.”
No, Wedell wasn’t channeling Cubs legend Ernie Banks. He was just pleased with his girls’ sweep of Christian Liberty in a Northeastern Athletic double-header.
The Warriors won 11-4 behind the pitching of Becca Fugiel before winning 13-2 behind Rachel Fugiel in the nightcap. Westminster began the season with questions that are starting to get answered.
“In the beginning of the year we weren’t meshing well,” Rachel Fugiel said. “We started to apply ourselves more in practice and that has made us better. I think it’s been about trying harder as a team.”
After winning Game 1, Westminster Christian (5-7-1, 5-1) scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and four more in the third to keep Christian Liberty from being part of the conversation in the nightcap.
Leadoff hitter Emma Kovachevich had two of her three hits in the first inning, which also featured a two-RBI single from Sarah Schmitt and an RBI triple from Jackie Calabrese.
Kovachevich has come a long way in a short time for the Warriors.
“Emma is a first-year player,” Wedell said. “Today, she hit fantastic. She hits from the left side and she’s a great little slapper. In her first week we knew she was going to be good at this.”
The Warriors’ four-run third saw Kovachevich bunt her way on, Rachel Fugiel follow with a run-scoring double, and Becca Fugiel knock her sister home with a single. Calabrese had another RBI and a single from Kaylee Johnson.
“We played clean, made the plays we had to make, and we stayed committed to the strike zone,” Wedell said. “We’re progressing. In the last couple weeks of the season I’m going to be excited to see where we’re at.”
Christian Liberty scored once in the fourth and got its second run in the fifth when Shelbi Hernandez’s ground ball scored Megan Sullivan from third base. Rachel Fugiel got a groundout to end the game, and also finished with a pair of hits.
“Rachel has been good. She gets the ball over the plate and gives us a chance to play defense,” Wedell said. “Becca has also gotten better on the mound this year.”
