WINDSOR — It’s usually safe for Woodstock High softball coach Jane Hoisington — and almost everyone else in the Upper Valley — to start planning make-up dates for the first few games on her schedule. Slow-melting snow and poor field conditions usually keep spring coaches indoors much longer anyone involved would like. Starting a season later than originally planned is something of an annual tradition.
Friday’s matchup between the Wasps and Windsor High was something of an anomaly — a chilly but otherwise perfect day for early April softball that no one saw coming.
It resulted in a hitting derby for over-eager bats excited about the fresh air. Windsor came back from a five-run deficit after two innings, batting around the lineup in the next three consecutive innings and put up 18 hits against Woodstock starting pitcher Lizzy Peck in a 25-11 victory. Woodstock had 13 hits — including two inside-the-park home runs — in the loss.
“There were a lot of positives,” Hoisington said. “Our offense was good today. Lizzy had a few good innings. She was tough. I think they just got cold and tired; that kind of affected them.”
It was an impressive offensive display for the Yellowjackets, who are guided by second-year head coach Heather Stearns. Windsor is 7-41 in its last three seasons, including a 5-11 record in Stearns’ first turn at the helm last spring. This time around, Stearns said, she felt much more comfortable.
“Last year, our first game, we were a little nervous,” Stearns said. “I think the kids are a little bit more confident in us, and we’re a little bit more confident in them.”
Windsor’s Jasmine Frazer led the offensive surge, going 3-for-3 with with four RBIs, three doubles, two walks and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Peyton Richardson struck out three in the victory.
The Yellowjackets trailed, 7-2, after two innings and 8-2 headed into the bottom of the third but stormed back with seven runs on four hits, three walks and an error to retake the lead, 9-8. Woodstock took the lead back in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on Cassie Hill’s two-run inside-the-park home run, her second two-run homer of the game.
But Windsor kept the pressure on with eight runs on six hits, three walks and two errors in the fourth inning and another eight runs on seven hits, two walks and two errors in the fifth. Peck, Woodstock’s junior starter, pitched all seven innings.
“They seemed to come back, kept fighting and, finally, our bats started working a little bit,” Stearns said. “We’ve obviously got some stuff to work on, but that’s what first games are for.”
Mackenzie Yates led the Wasps, going 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Woodstock was 4-12 last season, has not managed a playoff victory since 1988 and has never made it to the state semifinals, according to VPA records.
“We came out strong,” Hoisington said. “I think the difference between in and out on a field (was) the pitcher hadn’t been on a mound yet. That first reaction step hasn’t developed yet.”
Woodstock travels to Burr & Burton on Wednesday. Windsor hosts Hartford on Monday.
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.