Burrell second baseman Sophia Gregg drew a walk to lead off Tuesday’s nonsection softball game with rival Highlands at Highlands High School.
She stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and came home on a wild pitch.
That early run turned out to be all Bucs pitcher Shelby Novak needed.
The sophomore second-year starter was in control all game. She struck out 10, walked none and scattered five hits over seven innings. The Burrell offense backed Novak up with six hits and drew seven walks against two Golden Rams pitchers and the defense behind Novak committed no errors in the 7-0 victory.
“Shelby’s coming along strong,” Bucs coach Dave Ferres said. “Her confidence in her pitches and her location has gotten better every game. The trusting in the pitches called and the scouting of the opposing hitters, it is all falling into place for her.”
Burrell, 3-3 overall, got back in the win column after a pair of losses — one to Northmont, Ohio, in the final game of its trip to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and a 12-11 setback Thursday against Class 5A power North Hills.
“The girls understood that the teams we lost to are all 5A and 6A teams,” Ferres said. “They were way bigger schools, and the girls were still competing. We let the teams know that they were in for a battle.”
The Bucs come back quickly Wednesday with a nonsection game at Bon Air Elementary against Valley. Section 1-3A play for Burrell starts Friday at Yough. Highlands dropped its second straight after two wins to start the season.
The Golden Rams, weather permitting, will be back in action Wednesday at Greensburg Salem in the Section 1-4A opener for both teams.
“This is a very resilient group,” Highlands coach Kasey Wolford said. “They love to compete and love to play. They are ready for any game that comes at them. They know how crucial section play is, and they’re ready for that. They don’t mind the quick turnaround. Hopefully, we will be able to play tomorrow.”
Of the seven walks Highlands pitchers Maddie Gorney and Alexis Sayles gave up to Burrell batters, five came around to score.
The Bucs led 3-0 after six innings. Novak walked to lead off the top of the second, and courtesy runner Leah Waldsmith came around to score on a single from Tina Gural to make it 2-0.
Novak also led off the sixth with a walk, and Waldsmith stole second and third before crossing home on a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Addy Wojtczak.
The Bucs padded their lead in the top of the seventh as shortstop Pyper Ferres connected on a two-run homer and third baseman Brae Jones had a run-scoring double.
Gural led Burrell with a pair of singles. She also walked to reach safely in three of her four plate appearances.
Gorney started for Highlands and worked three innings. She gave up just one hit and walked three while striking out two.
Sayles worked the final four and surrendered five hits, five earned runs and four walks. She fanned one.
“With the offense, we refer to it as aggressive discipline,” Coach Ferres said. “We have the mindset that every pitch is a pitch we can swing at, but we also have to be smart enough to lay off it if it isn’t in the zone. That seems to be paying off now.”
Gorney, Bailey Megats, Gabby Chambers, Makenzie George and Carrah Scardina collected singles off Novak, who faced the minimum in the first, second, third and fifth innings.
Scardina singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh before Novak struck out the last two batters to end the game.
“(Novak) is a seasoned pitcher, and one of our mindsets this year is having selfless at-bats, going up with a plan and controlling what we can control,” Wolford said.
“I think we did a good job of that. Obviously, we can do better, and we have done better in games so far this season. The balls will fall if we keep putting them in play and keep attacking pitches.”