The Record Blogs: Off the Record: Troy High walks all over Amsterdam

Troy High drew 16 walks in a 15-0, six-inning Big 10 Conference victory over Amsterdam Monday afternoon.

Troy High sophomore catcher Mackenzie Heiser warms up prior to the start of Monday's Big 10 Conference softball game against Amsterdam. (All photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Monday's game got ugly in a hurry when Amsterdam pitcher Aimee Reksc just could not find the strike zone. Reksc threw 163 pitches in four innings of work, walking 15 and allowing eight hits in wound up a 15-0 victory for Troy High.

Amsterdam didn't arrive at Troy High until 4:30 p.m. and the game didn't start until 5 p.m. It ended just before 7 p.m.

So instead of writing a game story for Tuesday's paper, I spoke with sophomore catcher Mackenzie Heiser and how she's dealing with balancing three pitchers - Liz Belleville, Ang Acierno and Julie Brinkman - on her first year on the varsity. To read that piece, check out Tuesday's edition of The Record.

Liz Belleville, a junior pitcher for Troy High, hurls the ball during Monday's game. She struck out seven in four innings of work.

Gabby Daniels lays down a successful sacrifice bunt attempt in the first inning of Monday's game against Amsterdam.

For a full box score, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

So, here was what happened in the game: Troy walked and walked and walked all over the Rams.

In the first inning, Amsterdam's Reksc walked Lauren Cooney to lead off the game. Gabby Daniels followed with a sacrifice bunt. Anansa Benbow followed with an RBI single and the Flying Horses were on the board.

Mackenzie Heiser followed that with a walk and Ang Acierno walloped a ball to right field, racing around the bases for a patented Troy High fenceless outfield four-bagger. The rout was on.

Ang Acierno connects on a three-run home run in the first inning of Monday's game against Amsterdam.

Lauren Cooney reached base five times (one hit, three walks and one Amsterdam error), scoring four runs and driving in two.

Gabby Daniels scored two runs. Anansa Benbow singled three times and Mackenzie Heiser walked three times and added a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Julie Brinkman singled twice. Maddie Weaver singled twice and scored two runs. Connor Spain drew a pair of walks and scored a pair of runs. Jamie Brinkman laid down a bunt single and scored in the fourth.

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Some strange notes from the game...

Troy High runners were twice sent back to the bench (and an out recorded) for leading off first base before the pitch was released. I had never seen that rule called once the past few years, never mind twice in the same game.

Thanks to the 16 walks issued by Amsterdam pitchers, Troy needed just the one extra base hit - Acierno's home run - in scoring 15 runs.

Acierno, a junior at Troy High, rounds third base on her home run trot in the first inning of Monday's game.

Troy hosts Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons Friday and Catholic Central on Tuesday, May 18 to close out the Big 10 regular season.

Troy (9-1, 10-5) will likely be fighting CCHS (7-1, 11-3) for first place in what is always a hard-fought rivalry game.

"That’s always the main game of our season," Heiser said. "It’s a big rivalry. Hopefully we’ll win. Hopefully."

"We really want to beat them," said Julie Brinkman. "They’re our big rivals."