HOLMES TOWNSHIP — After a close contest on Tuesday at home, Colonel Crawford’s bats erupted for 12 hits in an 11-0, 6-inning win at Wynford as the county rivals met again in Northern 10 Athletic Conference softball Wednesday.

The Lady Eagles (8-2, 2-0) have taken advantage of opportunities to play during a cold and wet spring.

“Our AD (Jake) Bruner has been able to get us games when it’s been nice out. When it’s nice you got to get a field ready to play,” head coach Ethan Weithman said.

Crawford was ready, scoring 3 runs in the first inning. Adalyn Bond’s inside-the park home run to right field started the scoring. Rylie Hoepf then hit a bloop single and scored when Kinley Hoepf laced a triple.

Saylor Holt drove in Kinley Hoepf with one of her 3 singles. Kinley added a triple in the third and then a three-run home run to left center field in the fifth to break the game open at 8-0.

“We got some things to work on; like if they don’t go 3-for-3 they think the world’s coming to an end,” Weithman said.

“They’re doing what they have to do for the most part. With two strikes, you’ve got to make contact, put the ball in play. You put pressure on the defense to make plays.”

Aubrey Betts limited the Lady Royals (1-3, 0-2) to one hit, a single by Kate McGuire in the fifth inning. Betts struck out 3 and walked just one batter.

Bond’s sixth-inning triple to left brought in two more runs.

Wynford ace Rylee Robinson struck out 5 and walked one.

“It helps since we faced Rylee the night before and she’s a phenomenal kid and phenomenal pitcher. She’s one of the best pitchers in the N10 and one of the best around here,” Weithman said.

“Aubrey was able to keep them off balance. She had great stuff with back-to-back shutouts against them.”

Kinley Hoepf is new at third and Bond at shortstop as both are freshmen.

Last season defense plagued the Lady Eagles.

“We averaged 3 and a half errors a game last year. We need to keep working on defense,” he said. “Up until the Cardington game we were OK. We had more errors (8) that game than we’ve had all season.

“Monday was nice to be off and practice and kind of resettle a little bit. The main thing is to make the play. You don’t have to make an outstanding play, just make the play.”

Wynford head coach Chelsea Rice acknowledged Colonel Crawford’s offensive skills.

“They’re a good hitting team, 1 through 9 or 1 through 10. They’re powerful and they’ve been working. I’m going to tip my hat to Ethan, their assistants and Sarah (Fraser),” she said.

The Lady Royals, facing top teams Mohawk and CC, have struggled to hit.

“We just need to get on top of the ball. We’re hitting it to people or pop flying. It’s not going our way with the bats,” Rice said.

“We are young, but I love my 5 seniors. They’re in there … between our pitcher, centerfielder (Briley Hildreth) … and we are moving around positions. There’s still lots of time left in the season.”

Box score

Colonel Crawford    302 033 X      11     12      0

Wynford                     000 000 X        0        1      0

WP: Aubrey Betts (3 SO, 1 W)

LP: Rylee Robinson (5 SO, 1 W)

HR: (CC) Adalyn Bond, solo inside the park, first; Kinley Hopef, 3-run fifth).

Triples: (CC) Kinley Hoepf 2, Adalyn Bond.

Doubles: (CC) Olivia Friley.

Multiple hits: (CC) Saylor Holt 3, Kinley Hoepf, Adalyn Bond.

Records: Colonel Crawford 9-2, 3-0 N10; Wynford 2-4, 0-3 N10;.

Next: Colonel Crawford at MVD Invitational at Ontario, Friday; Wynford at Gibsonburg, Saturday.