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Defending Class 2A champion Hamilton saw a little bit of what it could have in store in a 3-0 win to open the 2010 season at cross Monroe County rival Smithville.
Knotted at zero through six innings, Hamilton got leadoff singles from freshman Taylor Hyland and Emily Earnest in the seventh. After Drew Cockerham was intentionally walked, freshman Jordyn Jackson reached on a dropped flyball to deep center field to clear the bases.
Jackson had two doubles in the win.
Hamilton coach Lewis Earnest joked after the win that there may be a few quick games for this team until it figures out the ropes.
"We're probably going to play a lot of quick games this year because of a lack of hitting," Earnest laughed. "They're young. They've got to get some experience under them and after a few games maybe they'll start to figure it out. We've still got girls in practice trying to figure out where to hit what pitch."
Smithville loaded the bases three times but Hamilton freshman pitcher Alison Atkins escaped any run damage. Singles from Jamie Avery, Jennie Avery and Meagan Whitehead loaded the bases in the sixth, but Kami Roberts' hard ground ball was snapped up by shortstop Cockerham.
"We're just bad young and weak," Smithville coach Jeremy Duke said. "We're going to have a hard time scoring because we've got to poke at the ball and try to hit the holes. We're not going to hit it through anybody. We're not going to hit it over anybody, but they're working hard. I'm proud of them. I thought we did good to hang 3-0 with them."