The start of the 2019 softball season for the West Stanly Colts continued in similar fashion to last season’s opening win streak. West won its ninth straight game to open the season on Tuesday, easily dispatching the Central Academy Cougars in a 13-0 five-inning home win.

The Colts won the team’s ninth game in a row to start the season, two behind last season’s opening win streak of 11 games. West also stayed perfect in the Rocky River Conference with the win over the Cougars.

Sophomore pitching senstation Jordan Hatch continued her strong start to the season throwing five innings of no-hit ball in the win for West. Hatch struck out 10 batters with one walk, giving her 125 strikeouts this season to only nine walks. She has only allowed two earned runs in 56 innings pitched for a 0.25 earned-run average.

“(Hatch) has been phenomenal for us the last two seasons. We feel extremely confident when she is on the mound,” West head coach Craig Carter said.

“Now we just need to keep working to sharpen our defensive skills behind her and get ready for the stretch run through the conference and for the playoffs.”

Offensively, Rosalyn McRae drove in three runs with a triple for West while Ashlyn Hughes had two hits and three RBIs. Shelby Barbee and Megan Stockton also continued last season’s trend of hitting home runs, both leaving the yard in Tuesday’s win. Karsyn Furr also had two hits and two RBIs.

West faces a tough test Thursday night in a neutral-site game at Pfeiffer University against the 4A South Caldwell Spartans. The Spartans are 7-1 on the season and 6-0 in the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference.

“It is going to be a very tough test…I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond,” Carter said.

Sports Editor Charles Curcio can be reached via email at charles.curcio@stanlynewspress.com, 704-983-1361 or via Twitter (@charles_curcio).