POLAND OFFENSE WAKES BACK UP
POLAND OH- Elliana Thompson put on a show Friday, launching two homers and driving in five runs to power Poland past West Branch 9-3.
Thompson set the tone early, hammering a two-run shot to center in the first and following it up with another bomb in the second.
West Branch actually struck first, with Mati Hawk ripping an RBI double in the top of the first to put the Warriors on the board. But Poland answered quick — Thompson’s homer tied it, and a groundout pushed another run across to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
Poland blew it open in the third, putting up a five-spot. Sydney Bulick dropped a two-run single into the outfield, Thompson smoked a two-run double, and Avery Jakubovic added an RBI knock to make it 7-1.
Lillian McDonald went the distance in the circle for Poland, giving up six hits and three runs over seven innings. She punched out seven without giving up a free pass. Klary McKay took the loss for West Branch, getting touched up for seven runs on four hits in two innings of work.
Poland’s sticks stayed hot, racking up 10 hits. Leanna Boccieri, Jakubovic, and Bulick each had multi-hit games. The Bulldogs also worked seven walks, with Blanch and McDonald leading the way with two apiece.
For West Branch, Hawk and Ellie Tucker were tough outs, both collecting two hits and keeping the offense alive. Hawk went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and also flashed the leather, handling 10 chances without an error as West Branch turned a double play. Poland heads to Girard on Monday, while West Branch gets back to it Tuesday against Salem.
