The McNary Celtics celebrate as Ellie Martin crosses home after her solo home run in the sixth inning against West Salem on Tuesday, May 17, at West Salem. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
The Celtics were all smiles Tuesday at West Salem High School.
McNary cruised to a 7-0 shutout win, highlighted by home runs from Ali Martinez and Ellie Martin.
The Celtic power surge came from an unlikely spot. Martin and Matinez are at the bottom of lineup, eighth and ninth respectively.
But head coach Kelly Parsell just thinks that shows the strength of the order top to bottom.
“We’ve got some strong girls, one through nine,” Parsells said.
Martinez’s shot came in the fourth inning with one out. Already up 4-0, Martinez sent the first pitch she saw sailing on a line to the opposite field and over the fence.
It’s been a long season for Martinez. She had shoulder surgery, rehabbing since last August, and is getting back in the swing of things.
“It was a big confidence booster for me,” Martinez said.
In the sixth, it was Martin’s turn. Again on the first pitch, and again a line drive, this time to center field.
They tallied 10 hits, but perhaps more impressive were the zero errors McNary committed.
Even in the middle of their 10-game win streak, the Celtics were plagued with fielding miscues that often led to runs scoring. But Tuesday’s clean slate is more akin to how things look in practice, Parsell said.
Tuesday’s win gets the Celtics back on track after having their streak snapped by Bend High School in a double header on Saturday, May 14. Those two losses were the only losses in league play for McNary, and the first since April 11 on the road against Westview High School.
“This game was a good way for us to kind of reset ourselves and get back into a strong hitting mindset that we had earlier in the season,” Parsell said.
McNary has two final games, a doubleheader against Summit High School at home (results not available at time of print).
Ali Martinez watches her fourth inning home run sail out to right field in the game at West Salem on Tuesday, May 17. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)