It was a monumental day for the Loudonville Redbirds when they took the field against the Lucas Cubs on April 3, with Natalee Buzzard pitching her first no hitter and Olyvia Fenton breaking the school record for career steals.
Buzzard went five innings in the mercy rule shortened game, allowing only one walk while striking out 11 batters. Coach Serena Fenton said the whole coaching staff is proud of Buzzard’s achievement, saying that she is a hard worker who had to work through some rain in the first inning where she gave up a leadoff walk. There was also an error where a fielder slipped fielding a routine ball and couldn’t get the throw off. That was the only other runner on base, and the rest of the way, she was lights out.
“Natalee worked out of that first inning and no one else got on the rest of the game,” Coach Fenton said. “She was able to keep the ball nice and low in the strike zone tonight and finished off the last inning with some beautiful change ups for strikeouts as well.”
Fenton went 2-for-3 with a run and had her milestone steal, which was the 79th of her career. Fenton also holds the single season record with 34 steals, which she set last season.
“She is definitely speedy especially down the first base line but she doesn’t necessarily have that knock your socks off steal bases speed,” Coach Fenton said. “It’s her great jump off the pitch and beautiful slide that makes it harder to throw her out. She has worked hard the past several years to be that lead off that does anything to get on for her team whether it be hitting, drawing walks, etc. Then add being able to capitalize on stolen bases and we have someone in scoring position right away.”
Peyton VanSickle was the top offensive player with a 3-for-3 showing, blasting a homer and a double while driving in a run. She also scored two runs in the game.
Karena Burgess went 1-for-3, smashing a home run and driving in three, while scoring twice. It was her second homer of the young season. Addison Wolford was 1-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and two runs. The Redbirds had a total of 12 runs and 10 hits as a team, in what was an impressive showing at the dish.
“A lot of our girls hit the ball hard tonight,” said Coach Fenton. “Payton was seeing it really well going 3 for 3 on the night. Karena’s home run was a monster that you knew right away was long gone and Payton’s was a line drive rocket out of center field. Seven of the nine starters had hits and the other two still hit the ball well. We were proud of our overall effort tonight.”
Loudonville is off to a solid start to the season, coming off a 2-1 trip to Myrtle Beach where they lost the opening game to IC Catholic Prep (IL) 11-1, and followed with a 4-3 win over Pikeville (KY) and Moniteau (PA). During that trip, Burgess hit a homer and drove in three runs, while batting .455 and posting an OPS of 1.364. Jaiden Stitzlein also hit a homer on the trip. As a team they batted .342 with an OPS of .923, showing that the pop is certainly there early for the Redbird bats.
