Slap happy: Schertel’s ability to get on base gives Raiders edge in victory over Blue Devils

QUINCY — Haley Schertel was not always a slapper.

“In eighth grade, (the Quincy Notre Dame softball coaching staff) switched me from being a right-handed hitter to a (left-handed) slapper,” Schertel said.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Schertel’s development as a slapper was in full view Monday evening at Quincy High School when she triggered three separate uprisings for the Raiders, who dominated their crosstown rivals 14-2.

Schertel, now an established .300 presence in the QND lineup, stroked a lead-off double and single — both to left field — in her first two at-bats. She later capped a three-hit night with a two-out infield single, showcasing her above-average speed.

Schertel’s hits came in the third, fifth and sixth innings, helping the Raiders build leads of 2-0, 5-0 and 8-2. A junior third baseman, Schertel normally bats ninth in the order and realizes the kind of weaponry she provides for the QND offense. 

Above-average bat control, plus her speed, also allows the bunt to be a weapon. 

Admittedly, Schertel is at a good point in her career.

“I’m more confident now,” she said.

QND coach Eric Orne agrees. And he’s enjoyed watching Schertel’s evolution as a player.

“Haley helps set the tone for us, but doesn’t try to do too much,” he said. “She’s like a second-leadoff hitter in that No. 9 spot in the order.”

The victory over their arch rival may also serve as an indication the Raiders (14-4) are hitting their stride at just the right time. The postseason is less than a month away for QND, which has won three in a row.

“We struggled at times early in the year, but now I think we’re over the hump,” Schertel said. 

Orne said an up-and-down first half of the season was compounded by “four or five” of the Raiders players fulfilling commitments to other sports. All’s well now, however, he assures.

“We’re back to full strength,” Orne said. “We’re a strong team when we have (all of our players).”

The Raiders saw nine different players get at least one of the team’s 16 hits, with seven scoring at least one run.

The top of QND’s order was especially productive. Caitlin Bunte, Eryn Cornwell and Abbey Schreacke combined for eight hits and got on base a combined 11 times.

Schreacke capped QND’s night with a two-run opposite field home run to left in the seventh, providing her with a four-RBI night. She went 3 for 3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. The junior also had a stolen base.

Cornwell, who also picked up the pitching victory, had three hits and reached base four times. Cornwell drove in three runs to improve her team-leading total to 28.

Pitching-wise, Cornwell improved her record to 11-1.

Bunte, a freshman who was the team’s top hitter (.556) entering the game, collected a pair of hits. 

Blue Devils coach Darrell Henze cut right to the chase after seeing a close game disappear over the closing three innings when QND scored 12 of its runs.

“We’ve got to clean some things up,” he said. “We have 13 games left (before the postseason).”

QHS (3-13) committed six errors, most of them coming in the latter innings. 

Henze also pointed to his club’s inability to put the ball in play with runners on base, particularly early in the game. A bright spot for QHS was a run-scoring triple off the bat of Emily Cain, followed by a QND error, accounting for the Blue Devils’ two runs in the fifth inning.

“I feel we’re a better team than our record shows,” Henze said. 

The Raiders and Blue Devils will meet for a second time May 9 at QND.