The Chesterton softball team turned in another big offensive first inning and that was more than enough for pitcher Taylor Harlow.

The Trojans scored six runs in the top of the first inning and Harlow threw a no-hitter as Chesterton picked up a 13-0 Duneland Athletic Conference victory at Merrillville on Wednesday.

“All of the girls did a great job with the bats and Taylor threw a great game,” Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “Everything was put in play hard and our base running was a lot more heads up tonight.”

Jaren Lynch started the first with a one-out single. After Kelci Garcia drew a walk, Heather Overla doubled scoring Lynch. Harlow’s single scored Garcia.

Kathleen Maple singled and moved courtesy runner Jessica Peterson to third. Peterson scored on Ryan Bozak’s infield single. Maple scored on Vanessa Salamanaca’s ground out.

“Vanessa shows no hits, but really executed with runners in scoring position,” Hopson said of Salamanaca’s three RBI night.

Overla led off the third inning with her second double of the day and scored on Harlow’s line shot to right field. Maple and Bozak put together back-to-back singles. Salamanaca’s ground out plated Maple.

“Heather really hit the ball hard,” Hopson said. “She had three deep hard shots. The third one was caught by an outfielder who finally backed up to the fence.”

Harlow started the fifth inning with a single as the Trojans (7-6, 3-2) put the game away with five more runs.

Courtesy runner Peterson moved to third on a pair of wild pitches as Maple drew a walk. Peterson scored when Bozak reached on an error sending Maple to third. Salamanaca’s squeeze bunt plated Maple.

Howard reached on an error and eventually scored on Sam Gross’ single. Gross scored on a single by Garcia.

The Pirates would get just two baserunners, both on Trojan errors as Harlow dominated the field.

“Taylor threw a great game,” Hopson said. “She and (catcher) Sam (Gross) did a nice job of mixing locations and speeds.”

The Trojans return to the field tonight when they host Lake Central beginning at 4:30 p.m.

SCORING BY INNINGS

2B -- Heather Overla 2 (C). Pitching Summary -- Chesterton -- Taylor Harlow (5 IP, 0 H, 6 K, 0 BB). WP -- Harlow. LP -- Lindsey Mitchell.

The Chesterton junior varsity picked up a 14-5 Duneland Athletic Conference victory at Merrillville on Thursday.

Lydia Gill played a good game offensively with a triple in the third inning, a sacrifice bunt in the fifth and a single in the seventh.

Other big hitters included Juli Sutter and Annette Frank with RBI singles in the seventh inning.

Posted 4/23/2009