By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan

There were no surprises Thursday night at Iverson as both of the top teams in the Portage County Women’s League came away with wins.

In the first game, Johnny & the Bootleggers (7-1) clobbered Morey’s (1-6), 23-2, and Rookie’s Royals (7-1) downed Two Harps (2-5), 12-5. Star Struck (2-6) had the bye.

The first game was no contest from the beginning. After scoring two runs in the first inning, Johnny & the Bootleggers ambushed Morey’s with a 20-run second. The league’s co-leader pumped out 30 hits during the four-inning rout. Cheyenne Hahn and Nicole Ihrcke each had three hits during the uprising while Jamie McDonald, Mak Lee, Kristin Felts, Dana Krug, Stacey Zarecki, and Chel Vidal chipped in two apiece. Jamie McDonald hit not one but two home runs during the inning, and one was a grand slam. Shortstop Mak Lee followed Jamie’s first blast with another Bootleggers’ homer. The big rally also featured doubles by Cheyenne Hahn, Kayla Keepers, Chel Vidal, and Liz Morrison.

Everyone in the Bootleggers’ lineup had at least two hits. Cheyenne Hahn, Jamie McDonald, Mak Lee, and Nicole Ihrcke led the way with four hits each while Dana Krug and Kayla Keepers chipped in three hits apiece.

Winning pitcher Kristin Felts held Morey’s to five singles off the bats of Candice Williams, Stephanie Spindle, Brittany Spindle, Megan Ziolkowski, and new player Jordan Ehlers. Heather Seveik and Brittany Spindle scored the two runs for Moreys.

Morey’s Batting Stats: Candice Williams: single; Stephanie Spindle: single; Brittany Spindle: single; Megan Ziolkowski: single; Jordan Ehlers: single.

Johnny & The Bootleggers Batting Stats: Cheyenne Hahn: three singles, double; Liz Morrison: single, double, walk; Jamie McDonald: two singles, grand slam homer in second, three-run homer also in second; Mak Lee: double, two singles, solo homer in second; Kristin Felts: two singles; Dana Krug: three singles, nice catch in left; Kayla Keepers: double, two singles; Stacey Zarecki: two singles, batted lefthanded for one pitch; Chel Vidal: double, single; Nicole Ihrcke: four singles, three runs.

Correction: There WAS one surprise last night at Iverson: Cheyenne Hahn of Bootleggers and Laura Waltenberg of Moreys met at home plate for the traditional coin flip to determine home and visitors.

With umpire Steve “Scuba” Stroik observing, Scuba’s son Caleb came out to flip the coin. He gave the coin a great flip and then was stunned when both teams gathered at home plate and sang “Happy Birthday” to the little gentleman. The coin flip ceremony was in honor of Caleb’s eighth birthday.

Following the singing, league commish Erin Laffe walked out and presented a smiling Caleb with a birthday cake. Caleb got a standing ovation from the crowd. He also did a great job flipping the coin prior to the second game.

In the nightcap, Two Harps actually led 2-0 in the second inning. Their pair of runs came after walks to Sara Cunningham and Kristen DeVogel and singles by Brooke Sprecher, Wendy Johnston, and newbie Kelly Renderman. After scoring one run in the third, Rookie’s Royals came up with an eight-run fourth to pretty much put the game away. The key hits were singles by Samantha Zommers, Nicole Kirsch, Valerie Folan, winning pitcher Beke Blue, Erin Laffe, Katie Steinbach, and Jacci Seefeldt plus Bailey Hinderman’s two-run homer and Amy Kurszewski’s booming bases-loaded double to left.

Two Harps picked up three runs in the fifth on singles by Darcie Garcia, Kristen DeVogel, Brooke Sprecher, Wendy Johnston, and Kelly Renderman’s long double. Rookie’s had 23 hits during the game while the Harps came up with eleven.

Two Harps Batting Stats: Sara Cunningham: walk; Darcie Garcia: single, run; Kristen DeVogel: walk, single, two runs; Brooke Sprecher: two singles, two runs; Alishea Johnson: two singles, great play at third; Wendy Johnston: two singles, walk; Kelly Renderman: single, double; Emily Schnese: single, caught foul pop-up.

Rookie’s Royals Batting Stats: Becky Kurszewski: single, double; Katie Steinbach: three singles, flawless shortstop; Amy Kurszewski: double, three RBIs; Jacci Seefeldt: three singles, double, two runs, two RBIs; Bailey Hinderman: homer, double, two runs; Samantha Zommers: single, run; Nicole Kirsch: four singles; Valerie Folan: two singles, run; Beke Blue: two singles, two runs; Erin Laffe: two singles, one birthday cake.

League Records: Johnny & The Bootleggers: 7-1. Rookie’s Royals: 7-1. Two Harps: 2-5. Star Struck: 2-6. Morey’s: 1-6.