Gainesville High Softball Produces Win Behind Ace

Gainesville High softball defeated Williston at home Tuesday night, 5-0, behind the two-hit pitching of Leanna Bourdage.

Bourdage (1-0) delivered a dominating performance in the circle. The Texas A&M commit ended the night with 15 strikeouts in going the distance.

Gainesville (2-3) put its first run on the board in the bottom of the third. 

Red Devils’ pitcher Sara Hollander surrendered a walk to Bourdage. Gainesville third baseman Adriana Koralewski reached on a hard hit to Williston shortstop Baylee Cribbs, who failed to field the zinger. 

With runners on first and second, shortstop Lana Renicks connected for a single down the third base line to drive in Bourdage for a 1-0 lead.

However, the Hurricanes’ bats remained quiet until the fifth.

“I think we were swinging at some questionable pitches early in the game,” Gainesville coach Chris Chronister said.“We talked about looking for better pitches early on in the count to hit and they did a better job of executing that [in the fifth].”  

Hollander was relieved after pitching in the first four frames by third baseman Emily Asencion. In the fifth, ‘Canes center fielder Emma Barton teed up a hard-hit grounder and reached on an overthrow.

Koralewski once again kept the momentum alive against Willison (3-2).

The senior smoked a double to center field to drive in Barton for a 2-0 lead. Renicks followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Koralewski to tag up at third and stroll into home plate to put Gainesville up 3-0.

In the sixth, left fielder Taylor Rogers teed up a slap-hit to third for a single to get the ‘Canes rolling. The bases were loaded after Asencion conceded a walk and a hit batter. Once again, Koralewski was clutch, ripping a two-run single for the 5-0 final score.

“She’s a good hitter, and it hasn’t been coming through early in the season, but she broke out tonight,” Chronister said.

“We need people in the middle of our lineup to be producing like that, so I was really happy for Adriana tonight; she did a great job.

“We can’t depend on Leanna to shut every body out. We need to be able to score at least a few runs every game and take the pressure off of her in the circle.”

Bourdage had extra motivation to deliver with a number of special eyes supporting her from the stands.

“I give pitching lessons on my off days, and I had a couple of my students in the stands. I was trying to show up and inspire them,” Bourdage said. 

Giving back to the sport that has given her so much is a cause that is crucial to the pitcher. She knows what it was like to be in her students’ shoes.

“It means so much, just being able to give back and knowing I was once that little girl in the stands watching, it’s huge,” Bourdage said.

Gainesville will open play in the Raider Invitational against Groveland South Lake (4-2) on Friday at 6 p.m.

“Big tournament this weekend, we’re going to have four games in two days, so it will be a lot of work for them, but I think they are up for the challenge,” Chronister said.

Category: Gainesville, Gainesville High School, High School Sports, Softball, Williston High School