DES MOINES — The Perry offense exploded for 12 runs on 14 hits and Emma Olejniczak faced just one batter over the minimum as the Jayettes walloped host Des Moines Christian, 12-0, in five innings of non-conference softball Monday.
“A great first night,” Perry head coach Tina Kenney said. “The team played in the moment and one pitch at a time. We swung the bats well and kept the pressure on for the entire game and the defense was spotless.”
Sid Vancil belted a grand slam for Perry, with Rachel Kinney adding two singles, a double and a home run of her own while driving in five runs. Alyssa Kruger had two RBIs, with Olejniczak, Jo Diw and Victoria Hegstrom each recording two hits while Maddie West had a single and a double as the Perry bats went wild.
A walk to Kruger and singles by Hegstrom and Kinney loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first. Vancil, who had five RBIs all of last season, nearly reached that total with one swing of the bat by lacing a grand slam to left field.
“I hit it and just started running,” Vancil said. “I didn’t know it went out until I rounded first (base). I wasn’t trying to for a home run, I just didn’t want to leave all those runners on base.”
Perry is returning eight starters, and Vancil said the team is confident they can have a successful year.
“We are all really excited to get the season started,” she said. “We all get along really well and have fun playing together. Last year we struggled at the start but finished strong and this year we want to start strong and then finish strong again and see what we can do.”
Perry tacked on three runs in the second when Maddy Jans reached on a fielder’s choice, with Diw and Olejniczak following up with singles before Kinney doubled.
A West double, a walk to Jans and a Diw single packed the bags in the fifth for the guests. Kruger plated two runs with a double, with Kinney’s three-run bomb putting the score at 12-0.
Olejniczak sailed along in the ring, striking out six and keeping the Lions hitless while issuing one walk as only 16 DMC batters stepped into the box in the five frames.
Weather could plague the schedule this week, but, should the rain stay away long enough, Perry will host North Polk Tuesday and Winterset Wednesday at the PAC before visiting Norwalk Friday.
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