Carli Reiber hits home run in Fairfield win over East Clinton
The Fairfield Lady Lions and the East Clinton Lady Astros met on Monday as both prepared for the start of the OHSAA tournament. It was another well-played game by two quality teams, but the non-conference win went to the Lady Lions, defeating the visiting EC squad, 7-1.
Before their game on Monday, Saturday was also a day to celebrate for the Lady Lions as Eastern Brown defeated Fayetteville by a 9-4 score to give Fairfield a share of the Division II Southern Hills Athletic Conference title for a third straight season as three of the five teams in SHAC Division II —Fayetteville, Peebles and Fairfield — finish the SHAC season at 10-3. Fairfield now has 20 conference championships and had not finished with three consecutive championships since 1987.
As for Monday, East Clinton picked up an unearned run in the top of the third inning off Lady Lion starting pitcher Gracie Lawson. Lawson, earning her first varsity starting assignment of the season, pitched well in her three innings of work, but gave way to Fairfield ace Kaiti White in the fourth inning, who picked up her 15th win of the season.
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Fairfield scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Carli Reiber stepped to the plate with two runners on the bases (and two outs) to hit a home run over the centerfield fence for her first career home run. Fairfield went on to score four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the victory.
East Clinton lead-off hitter Taylor Boeckmann was safe on an infield single and stole second base to start the game, but Lawson retired the next three batters to end the threat. Fairfield threatened to score in the bottom of the first inning with Reiber walking and White followed with a base hit to put runners on first and second base with one out, but Sierra Christian and the Lady Astros' defense pulled off a double play to end the threat.
EC's Alyssa Stoops was safe on an error to lead off the top of the third inning, and Mackenzie Campbell — two outs later — tripled to the fence in right centerfield to score Stoops and take a 1-0 lead. Fairfield threatened to score in the second and third innings, putting runners in scoring position in both innings, but again Christian got out of both innings with no runs scoring.
White entered the game to pitch for Fairfield in the top of the fourth inning and promptly struck out the first three EC batters. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Fairfield’s Megan Gragg reached first base on an infield hit with one out. Lyndee Spargur was safe on an error to advance Gragg to second base. Reiber then stepped to the plate and hit the first pitch over the centerfield fence to give FHS the lead with one swing of the bat.
The Lady Lions (16-6) added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the inning, Molly Thackston singled to right field, Gragg singled, Madi Fox reached base on a fielder’s choice, Spargur singled and scored, Reiber singled and scored, White doubled to left field and Layla Hattan doubled to right-centerfield.
White and the Lady Lion defense closed out the victory in the top of the seventh inning. White struck out the first two batters. Boeckmann reached first on her third hit in the game for EC, but White struck out the next batter to seal the victory.
Reiber had a career day for the Lady Lions, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and have three RBI. Other leading hitters for Fairfield were: Spargur (1-for-4, two runs), White (2-for-3, double, one run, two RBI), Hattan (1-for-3, double, two RBI), Thackston (2-for-3) and Gragg (2-for-3, two runs).
Boeckmann was 3-for-3 and MacKenzie Campbell had a triple for East Clinton.
White (15-5) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield in relief of Lawson. White pitched four innings, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk. White totaled 10 strikeouts in the win. Lawson pitched three innings, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits and one walk, while having one strikeout.
Christian suffered the loss for East Clinton, pitching six innings, allowing seven runs (none earned) on 11 hits and two walks. She finished with three strikeouts.
The Lady Lions begin the Southeast District Division III tournament on Tuesday, May 8 as they host the North Adams Lady Devils in a sectional semifinal game at 5 p.m. The sectional final game will be Friday, May 11 at 5 p.m.