Lake first baseman Kylee Pietrzak dives to catch a foul ball to end the top of the seventh inning in Monday’s game against Genoa. (Nicholas Huenefeld|Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
MILLBURY — Genoa’s Kaylin Shields dominated Lake on Monday, striking out 15 in a complete game no-hitter to give the Comets a 1-0 victory on the road.
“I told (the team) how proud I was of their defensive effort and energy throughout the game, but you’re not going to win a lot of games with no hits and 15 strikeouts,” Lake coach Dave Rymers said.
Shields, a senior will play at NCAA Division II Wheeling University, retired the first eight and final 10 batters she faced. She allowed just two baserunners on a hit by pitch in the third and a dropped third strike passed ball in the fourth.
The righty struck out the side 1-2-3 in the second and sixth innings while also recording all three outs via strikeout in the third.
“Mixing my speeds was huge in keeping them off balance, especially Diem Isbell,” Shields said. “She’s one of their best hitters. I’ve known her for a while. I knew how to attack her, but she knows how to hit off me. Mixing speeds really helped with her.”
The Comets (8-4, 3-1 NBC) struck early on offense with the game’s lone run in the first. Jada Jerew singled back to the circle with one out to start the rally. After Shields advanced her to second on a groundout, Makayla Magrum knocked Jerew in with a two-out single to left.
“That helped a lot,” Shields said of her team getting her an early run. “To come out quick and get on top was real nice.”
From there, it was all Shields, who struck out every batter at least once, five at least twice and one three times.
Alivia King, who was Lake’s batter to reach on a hit by pitch, also recorded the team’s lone stolen base. Alayna Meadows threw a Genoa runner out from behind the plate.
Kali Bedford tossed a complete game for Lake while suffering the tough luck loss. The junior allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out seven over 88 pitches.
“They got theirs in the first inning with two outs and a runner on second,” Rymers said. “They flared one down the line and managed to hold it up. We’ll build on this and move on.”
The Flyers (5-9, 0-4 NBC) will hit the road for a pair of games against Swanton and Fostoria on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home Friday against Rossford.
