Girard rides fast start to top Harding 12-2 | News, Sports, Jobs

Staff photo / Brian Yauger. Girard pitcher Brooklyn Broll fires a pitch for the Indians during their victory over Harding on Thursday.

GIRARD — Over the last few games, Girard has had its issues at the plate. But there was no concern on Thursday for the Indians as they took down Warren G. Harding, 12-2.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit at the plate the last couple games,” Girard coach James Keagy said. “We’ve been waiting for a game like this to actually hit some balls in the gaps. (Harding) made a lot of great plays. I mean that center fielder and their shortstop are two great players.”

It started early, with the Indians piling on seven runs across the first two innings.

For Girard, the name of the game has been improvement. Through 16 games, they’ve seen it play out.

“We’ve been trying to get a little bit better each game. Whether it was a win or a loss,” Keagy said. “They’ve been trying to mature. We’ve got a lot of young kids, only one senior on this team, Abby Iceman, but I thought today they played well. I thought our pitcher, Brooklyn Broll, hit her spots, and did a good job.”

Harding showed flashes throughout the game, including highlight reel catches by center fielder Ky’Ziya Minor and shortstop Azarriah Phillips, but the team is young like Girard, and that also showed.

Youthful mistakes led to multiple runs from Girard throughout the contest.

As the Raiders get more experience, coach Rick Riley is confident that his team will shed the youthful mistakes and let the talent showcase itself.

“Once they get past the mental mistakes of being a very young team, there’s a lot of talent in there,” Riley said. “All-world shortstop, all-world second baseman (Jayda Hayes). Those two as sophomores are going to lead the team for a long time.”

Girard has experimented with the lineup throughout the year, tinkering with different players in different spots out in the field.

That versatility has been a bonus as the tournament approaches.

“We’ve moved some people around position wise, and we’re just trying to have our pitchers pitch and our fielders field and everyone getting better at the plate,” Keagy said. “Swinging the bat and trying to level out some balls.”

The Indians look to keep things going this afternoon when they face Lakeview. Girard (9-7) will finish a suspended contest against the Bulldogs before playing their second matchup with Lakeview fresh off a victory over Champion.

That closes out the week for Girard, who got some much-needed time on the field after the weather issues this spring season.

“We took advantage of this good weather this week,” Keagy said. “We were able to get out and play every night, so I’m just trying to get as many reps as we can.”

Harding, who falls to 4-9 on the season, plays host to Kennedy today and is set to take on Cardinal Mooney on Saturday.