Arica Melson earns 2nd career no-hitter; Lady Lions win at LC
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — For the second time in her high school varsity career, Fairfield junior pitcher Arica Melson pitched a no-hitter, this time against the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs, on the road, by a 12-0 score in five innings.
The win on Wednesday by the Lady Lions was not only controlled in the circle by Melson, but by the Lady Lions' offense, who tallied 14 hits on the day. The FHS defense also committed zero errors in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference game.
"The girls played really well," FHS head coach Mark Dettwiller said. "Our defense was spot on, and the kids played all-around very well. We had great defense.
"Lynchburg-Clay has come up a few notches since the last time I saw them play. In the next two or three years, they are going to be tough."
As for the pitching by Melson, she was close to being perfect, as she walked just four of the 18 batters she faced. She finished with seven strikeouts.
Melson struck out two batters in both the second and third innings. Most of her walks came with three in the third inning, all consecutively. Before those walks, Melson retired the first eight batters she faced.
"Arica was dominant," Dettwiller said. "Throwing a no-hitter is tough, and she went out and pitched very well. Arica hit her spots and kept Lynchburg-Clay off-balanced."
Assistant coach Tom Purtell spoke about the defense of the Lady Lions.
"Heather (Sanderson) made a couple good plays on some bunts that weren't easy," he said. "LC is much improved, and I look for them to challenge down the road in the big school division of the league."
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Now to the batting of the Lady Lions.
In the first inning, the Lady Lions (4-0) put two runs on the board, as Kaitlin Evans and Shelby Smithson crossed home plate. Evans, who doubled to reach the bases, scored off a ground out by Cynnamon Sova-Davy, and Smithson scored off a base hit by Heather Sanderson for the two-run lead.
Smithson finished the day 3-for-4 with four runs and four RBIs. Also with three hits on the day was Shaylee Carson. Carson went a perfect 3-for-3 with one walk and two RBIs.
The second inning for the visiting FHS squad saw Kourtnie Smith, Grace Larrick, Evans, Smithson, Sova-Davy and Halie Chain all added runs to the Lady Lions lead, giving them an 8-0 advantage.
Chain went 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs. She also forced a walk. Smith finished 2-for-3 with two runs.
Smithson put FHS ahead by nine runs following a solo home run in the third.
"All of the hits we had were good, hard line drives, and Shelby hit a ball that I don't know if it has landed yet," Dettwiller said. "She is seeing the ball really well."
For LC in the bottom of the third, Sam Pierson, Lexi Waits and Megan Pointer all drew two-out walks, but Melson overcame her control issues to end the inning with a strikeout on a change-up.
Waits ended the game with no official at-bats as she drew two walks.
In the top of the fifth, three Lady Lions crossed home plate. Those players were Smith, Larrick and Smithson.
Melson finished her no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth by forcing two strikeouts and the game ended on a swinging strike three. Melson tossed 13 pitches in the fifth and final inning.
For the game, LC committed four errors. The Lady Mustangs left three runners stranded, while FHS left two on the bases. Larrick, Smithson and Sova-Davy each had a stolen base.
The win on Wednesday by the Lady Lions was not only controlled in the circle by Melson, but by the Lady Lions' offense, who tallied 14 hits on the day. The FHS defense also committed zero errors in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference game.
"The girls played really well," FHS head coach Mark Dettwiller said. "Our defense was spot on, and the kids played all-around very well. We had great defense.
"Lynchburg-Clay has come up a few notches since the last time I saw them play. In the next two or three years, they are going to be tough."
As for the pitching by Melson, she was close to being perfect, as she walked just four of the 18 batters she faced. She finished with seven strikeouts.
Melson struck out two batters in both the second and third innings. Most of her walks came with three in the third inning, all consecutively. Before those walks, Melson retired the first eight batters she faced.
"Arica was dominant," Dettwiller said. "Throwing a no-hitter is tough, and she went out and pitched very well. Arica hit her spots and kept Lynchburg-Clay off-balanced."
Assistant coach Tom Purtell spoke about the defense of the Lady Lions.
"Heather (Sanderson) made a couple good plays on some bunts that weren't easy," he said. "LC is much improved, and I look for them to challenge down the road in the big school division of the league."
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Now to the batting of the Lady Lions.
In the first inning, the Lady Lions (4-0) put two runs on the board, as Kaitlin Evans and Shelby Smithson crossed home plate. Evans, who doubled to reach the bases, scored off a ground out by Cynnamon Sova-Davy, and Smithson scored off a base hit by Heather Sanderson for the two-run lead.
Smithson finished the day 3-for-4 with four runs and four RBIs. Also with three hits on the day was Shaylee Carson. Carson went a perfect 3-for-3 with one walk and two RBIs.
The second inning for the visiting FHS squad saw Kourtnie Smith, Grace Larrick, Evans, Smithson, Sova-Davy and Halie Chain all added runs to the Lady Lions lead, giving them an 8-0 advantage.
Chain went 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs. She also forced a walk. Smith finished 2-for-3 with two runs.
Smithson put FHS ahead by nine runs following a solo home run in the third.
"All of the hits we had were good, hard line drives, and Shelby hit a ball that I don't know if it has landed yet," Dettwiller said. "She is seeing the ball really well."
For LC in the bottom of the third, Sam Pierson, Lexi Waits and Megan Pointer all drew two-out walks, but Melson overcame her control issues to end the inning with a strikeout on a change-up.
Waits ended the game with no official at-bats as she drew two walks.
In the top of the fifth, three Lady Lions crossed home plate. Those players were Smith, Larrick and Smithson.
Melson finished her no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth by forcing two strikeouts and the game ended on a swinging strike three. Melson tossed 13 pitches in the fifth and final inning.
For the game, LC committed four errors. The Lady Mustangs left three runners stranded, while FHS left two on the bases. Larrick, Smithson and Sova-Davy each had a stolen base.