It took a little while for the bats to heat up on Thursday in a Schuylkill League Division 2 matchup between Weatherly and Schuylkill Haven.

But once the sticks got hot for the Hurricanes, they were able to pull away thanks primarily to a six-run third inning en route to a 15-2 victory.

The Wreckers were able to hang in there for the first two innings, and entered the third knotted at no score. Abby Weston, Aisha Zuberi and Courtney Snyder all came through with hits for the Wreckers through the first two frames, with Weston and Zuberi both hitting doubles.

Haven then started to hit the ball hard and in play in the third, forcing some Weatherly miscues.

Joie Schoffstall got things started with a single after Kaitlyn Russo reached first on a dropped third strike to make it 1-0.

Aisley Jenan then reached base after a too-hot-to-handle grounder back to the pitcher, and an error by the Wreckers in their next at bat on a throw and catch from shortstop to first scored two runs to up the Hurricanes lead to 3-0.

Haven then stayed hot, as run-scoring singles from Danica Snyder and Braelynn Strenkoski made it 5-0, and a passed ball later in the inning upped the Hurricanes’ advantage to 6-0.

“Sometimes the weather dictates how they start at the plate, it seems,” said Schuylkill Haven coach Garry Adams. “But yes, we did start out slow. But once they got a feel for the game, they started to hit with that mentality to be aggressive and hit the ball hard and look to score as many runs as you can.

“Schoffstall was also big for us today. She’s been a good hitter for us for a while. She doesn’t try and do too much. She doesn’t let anything bother her. She just gets up there and gets hits and has a great approach.”

The Wreckers fought back in the bottom of the third, getting two runs across.

Weston started the inning with a single, and advanced to third after a few passed balls. Elizabeth DiGennaro’s groundout brought in a run, and later in the inning an RBI double from Zuberi cut the deficit to four. It was a two-run, three-hit third for the Wreckers, with Rebecca Caldwell also collecting a single in the inning.

“Our girls won’t quit,” said Weatherly coach Will Bartel. “Maybe we’re over-matched at times. But they always have each other’s back, they play hard and that’s what the most important thing is. We played some good defense early and the girls made some nice plays. And when we play good defense, we can hang. But we had that dropped third strike, and that opened the door and then it was like quick sand.

“A few things went wrong, and Schuylkill Haven took advantage. They’re a really good team. But our girls are growing. We’re playing four freshmen, so we’re young. We just need to keep getting better.”

The Hurricanes dominated the rest of the game, scoring five runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth.

Schoffstall settled in from the circle, shutting down the Wreckers’ offense the rest of the way. She tossed five innings and allowed six hits, one earned run and struck out nine.

SUPER SCHOFFSTALL ... From the plate, Schoffstall went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

STAT LINE ... Weston and Zuberi led the Wreckers with two hits apiece.

BIG THIRD ... Haven broke the game open by scoring six runs on four hits in the third.

Sch. Haven 006 54 - 15 12 1

Weatherly 002 00 - 2 6 3

Schoffstall and Strenkoski; Binder, Caldwell (5) and Marasco. W - Schoffstall. L - Binder.

Records: Schuylkill Haven (5-5; 4-2); Weatherly (2-4; 2-4).