Fairfield wins over Paint Valley; Melson K's 16

After 12 days off due to rain and field conditions, the Fairfield Lady Lions returned to the playing field on Saturday in a non-conference game versus the Paint Valley Lady Bearcats.

The Paint Valley Lady Bearcats (2-3, 1-1 SVC) had a phenomenal season a year ago, winning a Division IV Regional championship and making a trip to the State Final Four in Division IV.

The game Saturday featured two of the top Division IV pitchers in the state in Mikayla Newland of Paint Valley and Fairfield’s Arica Melson.

The game was a showcase for both pitchers as they combined to strike out 37 batters in the seven-inning game, but the Fairfield Lady Lions’ short game proved to be the difference in the game as they defeated the Paint Valley Lady Bearcats, 8-2.

Newland was perfect through the first three innings, striking out the first nine Lady Lions hitters she faced. Melson was nearly perfect through her first three innings, retiring nine of the first 10 batters she faced while striking out seven.

But the Lady Lions (2-0) made adjustments after their first at-bat and took the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Lead-off hitter Grace Larrick dropped a drag bunt on the left side of the dirt for an infield hit. Larrick stole second base, and Shaylee Carson doubled down the left field line, driving in Larrick.

Kaitlin Evans laid down a drag bunt for an infield single, and when the hurried throw was wide of first base, Carson scored and Evans raced clear to third base on the throwing error. Evans then scored on a wild pitch.

FHS took a commanding 7-0 lead with four more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Kourtnie Smith was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and stole second base. Pinch-hitter Casey Carter laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Smith to third base.

Carly Arnold reached first base on a wild pitch on strike three, with Smith scoring a run. Arnold stole second base and advanced to third base on a passed ball. Larrick then reached first base on a wild pitch on strike three as Arnold scored.

Larrick stole second and third bases, while Carson laid down a drag bunt this time on the right side of the dirt for a base hit with Larrick scoring. Carson stole second base, and when the throw went into centerfield, Carson raced to third base. Carson then scored on a wild pitch.

Meanwhile, Melson continued to be nearly perfect in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, retiring six of the seven batters she faced.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Lions put their first two hitters on base with Justice Hattan being hit by a pitch and Melson taking first on a dropped third strike. Jada Eads entered the game as a courtesy runner for Melson.

Both runners advanced to second and third with no outs, but Newland struck out the next three Lady Lion batters to end the threat.

The Lady Lions scored again in the top of the seventh inning on two walks and a wild pitch.

Newland finished the games with 21 strikeouts, and Melson recorded 16 strikeouts on the day.