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ORDER GAME PHOTOS
With the softball season finally starting to pick up momentum (most places, Mother Nature be damned), it's time to start focusing on the outstanding young ladies who make this sport one of the most exciting to watch.
With that, we've launched a new feature this spring: Heavy Hitters. Every Monday, we'll recap the nine most scintillating hitting performances from the past week of competition.
Why nine? Because there's nine batters in the lineup.
I should note that these are single-game performances only. I don't have the math skills to pull off calculating weekly totals.
If you'd like to nominate an athlete for our Hot Hitters list, send an email to brandon@idahosports.com.
With that said, here's our debut list of Idaho softball's Heavy Hitters, from the week of March 27th to April 1st. The performances will be listed in chronological order.
1. Klaira King, Fr, Glenns Ferry
Glenns Ferry won a state softball championship not too long ago, and with talented freshmen like King playing well, their run of success could continue for awhile. In a 25-2 Western Idaho Conference victory against Idaho City on Monday, March 27th, King went 2-for-2 at the plate. But that doesn't tell the whole story. In her other three plate appearances, King was hit by a pitch. That's right, in her five at-bats, King collected two hits and three hit by pitches. One of her base hits knocked in a run, and King came home to score all five times she reached base as well.
2. Ainsley Clark, Jr, Wendell
Clark turned in a perfect 4-for-4 performance in a 17-7 non-conference win over American Falls on Tuesday, March 28th. Two of her four hits left the yard, and she also scored all four times she came up to bat. Clark also finished with a double and drove in six runs.
3. Gracie Nelson, Jr, Kuna
Kuna sent a big message on Tuesday, March 28th, handing Middleton its first loss of the season by a score of 24-5. Gracie Nelson was a big reason why, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs, and four runs scored. She also earned a walk, reaching base all five times she came up to bat.
4. SoBella Malliarodakis, So, Owyhee
Owyhee flexed their muscles in a 20-0 shutout of Columbia in a non-conference game on Tuesday, March 28th. Malliarodakis sizzled, finishing 4-of-5 with a home run, a double, five RBIs and four runs scored. She also stole a base in the victory.
5. Juliana Puzio, Sr, Bishop Kelly
Puzio was a menace at the plate and on the bases in a 17-13 slugfest over Skyview in the Southern Idaho Conference opener for both teams. Puzio finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish. She homered, doubled, and stole three bases. She also scored four times, and knocked in four RBIs. The win was important for Bishop Kelly as a team, as the defending 4A champion Knights defeated Skyview, last year's 5A champions, in their first 4A conference game since moving back down.
6. Megan Highfill, Jr, Moscow
The Bears opened the floodgates in a 29-0 shellacking of Pullman (Washington) on Thursday, March 29th. Highfill hit for the cycle in the win, finishing with a single, double, triple and home run in the win. She also scored four runs and knocked in three RBIs.
7. Brodie Hansen, Sr, Priest River
The Spartans blanked the Newport Grizzlies from Washington 13-0 in a non-conference battle on Thursday, March 29th. Hansen went 2-for-3 in the victory, with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.
8. Bella Bonacorsi, Jr, Timberline
The Wolves won a non-conference shootout with Capital on Thursday, March 29th by a final score of 12-11. Bonacorsi batted 1.000 at the plate, finishing 3-for-3. The most remarkable part of her performance? All three hits were home runs. In addition to three homers, Bonacorsi walked twice, drove in four runs and scored all five times she came up to bat.
9. Mekhia Wagner, Sr, Cole Valley Christian
Wagner flashed her speed in a 17-7 non-conference win over McCall-Donnelly on Saturday. The senior was 2-for-2, and also walked twice. So not only did Wagner reach base four times, but she then proceeded to steal four bases as well. Wagner capped the perfect performance with four runs scored.
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