By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Sometimes the brain waves of a teenager work in mysterious ways. In Carlee Kern’s mind, after one game and a hitless debut, she was mired in a “slump.” Worried her for nine days. Perhaps it was a little early for the fret. Slump? According to Yogi Berra, when asked about the issue, he “just ain’t hitting yet.”
Bedford North Lawrence’s senior shortstop took care of all the angst. Be anxious for nothing, unless you’re pitcher putting one in the Kern sweet spot.
Kern broke out of her mini-mini-slump with two home runs, freshman Ava Ratliff blasted another while continuing to announce her future stardom, and star hurler Annie Waggoner took a no-hitter into the top of the seventh as the Stars smacked Silver Creek 6-0 on Saturday. Kern drove in three runs, powering BNL (2-0) to a what-me-worry conquest.
In reality, just to fact check, Kern was 0-for-4 for the season when she stepped into the batter’s box in the fourth. Ratliff had just launched her third blast of the year for a 2-0 lead leading off the frame. After a foul ball, Kern followed with a crunched bomb. All the distress disappeared as her smile widened with each quick step around the bases. Then in the sixth, she added a two-run blast to center, holding up to fingers for the universal “peace” sign as she headed for the plate. She was definitely at peace with herself.
“I was nervous,” Kern admitted. “I felt like I was getting in a slump. I was kind of doubting myself a little bit. Once that one went, I felt better. Then I hit two. I got lucky one on that one.“
Since BNL’s season debut on March 24, the self-imposed pressure needed a release value. One swing was the answer.
“She was thinking about it a little bit,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “And I’m sure she kept thinking about it. She was a little tight. What a way to get your first couple of hits.”
One swing kept Waggoner from a no-hitter. She was almost untouchable, saved by a sensational snag of a line drive by Carsyn Alvey at third base that also saved a double or a dentist visit if Alvey had not stuck the glove up in self-defense mode. Her bid ended when Reese Decker led off the seventh with a bloop to left that dropped in no-man’s land for a double. Waggoner struck out 9, and Aliza Jewell finished off the final three outs.
“She pitched well,” Gilbert said. “Not that we were looking for things like that. Our goal was to throw them both, but my unwritten rule, if someone has a no-hitter or perfect game, no matter what the plan was, let them ride it out. She was moving pitches well, very effective. And our defense made some plays.”
BNL took a 1-0 lead in the first when Lauryn Anderson dropped a bunt single, scampered to third on a wild throw, and scored when Waggoner struck out (and Creek catcher Izzy Sad had to complete the out at first after the pitch got away). The Stars added another run to start the sixth with Ratliff’s vicious liner to left and Braxton McCauley’s triple to the right-center field fence. She scored on the second Kern launch.
“We settled down and made some good swings,” Gilbert said. “We just have to play some games, that’s the main thing. I don’t care who it is, we need to play. We have some tough games coming up. We need some confidence, need to see some things. I like the way we’re playing, the enthusiasm.”
Ratliff, McCauley and Kern all had two hits. In addition to the Alvey catch, left-fielder McKaylin Turner had to go to the fence in left to catch a deep drive. Jewell struck out all three batters she faced. The victory will now push BNL into a busy week.
“It’s important, for everyone to trust one another, getting more comfortable,” Kern said. “Filling in the pieces wasn’t too hard. Ava has stepped into her role, so it’s been really good. Everybody is a just having fun.”
BNL will visit Brownstown on Monday.
