Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
Opponents still don't have an answer for Jenna Schachtner.
Oakwood couldn't figure out how to get on base against the
Flintridge Prep softball pitcher on Tuesday and neither could
Providence on Thursday.
Two days after throwing a perfect game with 13 strikeouts in an
abbreviated five-inning outing against Oakwood, Schachtner was
masterful yet again.
The senior was untouchable against the Pioneers, striking out 17
in a 2-0 nonleague victory at Olive Park.
Flintridge Prep Coach Anne Konrad has come to expect these types
of performances from Schachtner, an All-CIF right-hander in 2004.
"We know what she's capable of," Konrad said. "She works hard,
she's coachable and she's a team player. She has all the tools
necessary to be successful."
Providence Coach Maggie Boozel said she is glad the Pioneers don't
have to face Schachtner (2-0) again.
"She's an all-star pitcher," Boozel said. "She's just
overpowering. That riseball got us. We won't have to play that type
of pitching again."
Schachtner didn't dazzle the Pioneers (1-1) with an array of
pitches. She simply overpowered her opponents, like she did against
Oakwood. Schachtner threw only 62 pitches against Oakwood and tossed
71 pitches -- 55 for strikes -- against Providence.
"We pitched 20 riseballs in a row at one time," Rebel freshman
catcher Amelia Grossman said. "And, we had one really good
change-up."
A modest Schachtner deflected praise to Grossman.
"We have just clicked," said Schachtner, who went to a three-ball
count once. "She's done a great job. It's going to be an awesome
year."
The Pioneers rarely made contact, as Schactner's fastball blew
past them. Schachtner struck out the side in the second and third
innings, as well as the final two.
In between, she used 20 pitches to fan four of six batters.
Providence bunted into outs three times.
The Rebels finally produced for Schachtner in the fourth inning.
After leaving the bases loaded in the second inning and leaving a
runner on in the first, Flintridge Prep pushed a run across in the
second when Caitlin Evans' groundout allowed Rachel Tobias to score.
Flintridge Prep added another run in the sixth when Tobias' single
to right scored Mary McCluggage. Tobias reached base three times and
teammate Kjirsten Speer had three hits.
"To be ultra-competitive, we have to get our bats going," Konrad
said. "We have to put more balls in play. We have to make things
happen."
Konrad will look for a similar effort today when the Rebels play
one of their toughest opponents of the season.
*--*
BOX SCORE
*--*
*--*
Flintridge Prep 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 -- 2 7 0
Providence 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0 0 2
*--*
*--*
Flintridge Prep IP H R ER BB K
Schachtner 7 0 0 0 0 17
*--*
*--*
Providence IP H R ER BB K
Valdes 2.2 1 0 0 1 3
Biggs 4.1 6 2 2 0 3
Totals 7 7 2 2 1 6
*--*
*--*
WP-- Schachtner (2-0).
LP-- Biggs (1-1).
SB: FP-McCluggage.
*--*
