Boyer slugs homer, earns victory in circle as QND extends softball win streak over QHS to 11 games

QUINCY — Understandably, Madalyn Boyer needed a few moments to decide what was more enjoyable.

The Quincy Notre Dame right-hander was the winning pitcher — with excellent relief help from Caitlin Bunte — and also socked her first home run of the season during the Raiders’ 6-2 victory over rival Quincy High School in a Wednesday night softball game at Avenue of Lights Field.

“I’d have to say the home run,” Boyer finally admitted. “That really boosted my confidence.”

Boyer noted when she pitched a year ago against QHS, the Blue Devils had roughed her up. She had not forgotten.

“This time I just came in with more confidence in my ability,” said Boyer, now 5-0 for the 15-2 Raiders, who broke the game open with four unearned runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-1 advantage.

“All of those runs (in the fourth inning) made it a lot easier to relax,” Boyer said. 

The victory extended QND’s victory streak over the Blue Devils to 11 straight and moved the Raiders on step closer to a sixth consecutive 20-win season. Notre Dame has outscored Quincy 87-18 during that 11-game stretch. The last QHs victory against the Raiders came in April 2018. 

“I think we were a little tight entering this game (because of the rivalry),” QND coach Eric Orne said. “But this team does a lot of the little things right. I feel we have better pitching depth this year, and our lineup is longer than last year. It’s really enjoyable coaching this team.”

Orne praised the work of both Boyer and Bunte, calling them a “great one-two punch.” He felt Boyer looked “really sharp” after a rough first inning.

Boyer locked down the Raiders after surrendering a first-inning run when Ivy Winter singled and eventually scored via a sacrifice fly from Carlee Gilker. She held QND scoreless during her final three innings of work.

Bunte, a left-hander, pitched the closing three innings and struck out eight. The only hit she allowed was a fifth-inning double from Winter.

QND tied the game 1-1 in third inning when Joselyn Boyer doubled home Bunte, who had singled moments earlier. The Raiders took command with their four-run fourth, scoring all of their runs on the strength of just one hit — and three QND errors.

Boyer’s solo home run to right in the fifth inning completed Notre Dame’s scoring.

QHS coach Anjay Heinecke’s post-game assessment cut right to the chase, pointing to the mistakes the Blue Devils made in the fourth inning that opened the floodgates for QND.

“We probably hit better than we have in any other game this year, but the errors really cost us,” said Heinecke, whose club dropped to 4-8.

Heinecke felt Gilker did an admirable job on the mound, emphasizing how much the Blue Devils will be depending her the rest of the season. Injuries have left QHS with one established starter — Gilker.

“At this point, we’ll be focusing on staying in games,” she said. “We’ll be relying on Carlee much of the rest of the season.”

First baseman Morgan Zanger and catcher Lauren Miller each had two Notre Dame hits. QHS was led by two-hit nights from designated player Izzy Wepler, second baseman Kendyl Byquist and Winter. Winter upped her batting average to a team-best .447.

The Raiders and QHS have a rematch scheduled for April 28 at QND.