Harold Sachs doesn’t flash many signs from the third base coach’s box, but there is one he frequently sends to his batters.

Swing.

Salem High is averaging close to 10 runs per game, a stat helped by a 32-0 season-opening victory over West.

It isn’t often Sachs gives the bunt signal.

“The girls get to the plate, look at me for a sign, and I just want them to swing,” said Sachs. “To us, to give up an out by choice doesn’t make any sense. That’s helping (the opponent) out. We would rather get up there and swing.”

Despite scoring six runs on Wednesday, May 6, in a home contest with Concord, the Blue Devils dropped a second consecutive decision, falling 9-6 to the Crimson Tide.

After allowing a firstinning run to now 9-1 Concord, Salem bounced back quickly with three runs in the home half of the frame, capped by shortstop Amanda Vaudreuil’s two-run single.

But Concord struck for five runs in the third and three in the fifth, and Salem was unable to respond.

Though Sachs had hoped to make a statement against the team now tied for first place in Class L play, he was happy to see the noise his batters made against a formidable foe in Crimson Tide pitcher Paige Hansen.

“Our upside is that we were able to score six runs,” said Sachs. “There weren’t a lot of gifts. We just hit the ball well.”

Another bright spot for Salem was the pitching performance of Nora Galvin, who came on in relief to strike out nine batters during five innings in the circle.

Galvin has been overpowering this season, taking the loss in a 1-0 setback to Alvirne on May 6, despite not allowing a hit until a two-out home run in the seventh.

In the outing before that, Galvin came within two outs of a no-hitter.

“We’re still very frustrated. We believe we should be playing much better defense,” said Sachs, whose team sports a 7-3 record. “(Concord) is clearly a step above us, but as long as you’re ready to go at the end, that’s all that matters.”