Poland softball is Medomak Valley's latest no-hit victim

Medomak Valley pitcher Sidney Nichols winds up Friday for a pitch during the Panthers' 7-0 win over Poland on Friday in Poland. Nichols pitched her second no-hitter of the season. Purchase this image

POLAND — Medomak Valley fielders haven’t been busy to start the season because sophomore pitcher Sidney Nichols has been unhittable.

Nichols pitched her second no-hitter of the season on Friday to lift the Panthers to a 7-0 win over Poland.

“You don’t want to get in her way,” said Medomak Valley coach Richard Vannah, whose team improved to 2-0. “When she’s going, she’s going. She works really fast. She doesn’t like to wait for anything, but she’s very, very consistent. She doesn’t throw a lot of pitches.

Nichols finished with 16 strikeouts and struck out the side three times while walking one and hitting two batters.

She struck out 14 in a 5-0 win over Erskine Academy on Wednesday.

“That’s the hardest pitching we’ve seen yet this year,” Poland coach Josh Paradis said. “So we haven’t adjusted to any hard pitching.”

How did Medomak Valley score its runs?

• The top of Medomak Valley’s lineup got things going in the top of the third inning. Payton Eaton led off with a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nichols. Arianna Sproul doubled to drive in Claudia Feeley and make it 2-0.

“Um, just a lot of fastballs, change-ups, just having my eye on the ball really helps a lot,” Sproul said.

• Mental mistakes cost Poland later in the third when a Kytana Williamson infield pop-up with two outs dropped in for a double to score Sproul. Ivy McCollet led off the fourth with a walk and scored on an infield error, which sent Grace Townsend to third base. Townsend scored on a Nichols single to make it 5-0.

• McCollet, the No. 9 hitter, had a two-run single in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 7-0.

They said it

• “That’s key, it is very key, because if we get runners on, we got to have a strong bottom (of the lineup) just as well as the top because the top of the order is very, very strong. — Richard Vannah

• “Yeah, she’s very helpful for us, two no-hitters to start off the season. So defense, we’re doing very well. And we’re just backing her up on offense. So we’re all working together.” — Arianna Sproul

• “Yeah, we’ll communicate better, work a little harder in practice, and try to get better.” — Josh Paradis

Statistical leaders

• Medomak Valley: Nichols 1 for 4, two RBI; Sproul 3 for 4, RBI; Williamson 2 for 4, RBI; McCollet 1 for 3, RBI, walk.

• Poland: Phoebe Paradis four innings, seven hits allowed, three strikeouts, seven runs allowed, four walks; Karlee Lothrop, three innings, one hit, four strikeouts, four walks.