Lady Lions advance to district finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MINFORD — All season long, the Fairfield Lady Lions carried with them the disappointment of how they ended last season in the district semifinal loss to Waterford, because their coaching staff never let them forget that feeling.
Before they got on the bus Tuesday to play in the district finals this year, head coach Mark Dettwiller texted his players a picture of the scoreboard from that semifinal loss last season.
Maybe it was the final lesson needed for an already set motivation, but any way you look at it, the Lady Lions didn't have that same disappointment this season. In just five innings, the No. 1 seeded Fairfield squad shut out the No. 5 seeded Trimble Lady Tomcats by a 13-0 score in the Division IV SE District Semifinals at Minford High School.
Dettwiller spoke about that final photograph he texted to his players before the hour-plus bus ride and how the girls avenged what was a 4-3 loss in this round a season ago.
"I sent them a text right before we got on the bus," he said. "We took a picture of the scoreboard last year … we are still using that one."
Just how did the Lady Lions use that text or the experience from last season? How about to the tune of seven runs in the first inning, where they gained those runs on five hits and two walks.
Grace Larrick (3-for-3) began with a bunt single toward the third base side of the infield, followed by a single to left field by Shaylee Carson (2-for-4), which batted in Larrick from second base (she stole second) for the early one-run lead. Carson has hit safely for 28 consecutive games, dating back to last season.
Kaitlin Evans (2-for-3) followed with a base on balls, and Heather Sanderson (2-for-3) batted in Carson on a fielder's choice (but reached first base safely) for a 2-0 lead.
With two runners on the bases, Justice Hattan (2-for-3) continued her power surge from the previous tournament game last week with a three-run home run over the centerfield fence for a 5-0 Lady Lions advantage.
Having five runs on the scoreboard wasn't enough for the Lady Lions, as they continued to add to their lead in the first with Kourtnie Smith being hit by a pitch. Carli Reiber was the pinch runner for Smith, and she scored off a base hit to centerfield by Casey Carter. With Carly Arnold in as a runner for Carter, she eventually rounded the bases on a double by Carson, her second hit and second RBI of the inning.
For the game, FHS totaled 13 hits.
"The girls got off the bus ready to roll (Tuesday)," Dettwiller said. "They hit the ball very well. Our speedsters at the top of the lineup got on, and the middle and the bottom of the lineup did their job, batted them around and lit up the scoreboard.
"They did what they had to do. We don't focus on hitting home runs … we focus on hitting the ball hard, specifically hitting line drives. We tell the kids to think line drives, to hit line drives … to get in the box and take care of business.
"Justice is getting ahold of the ball right now, and it is traveling a long way."
Trimble threatened in the second inning with three runners on the bases with one out (they were retired in order in the first inning), but Melson did strike out the side for the second consecutive inning, keeping the Lady Tomcats scoreless.
[[In-content Ad]]
Fairfield responded in their half of the second with two more runs, with Evans reaching the bases off a passed ball on a strikeout, followed by Hattan batting in Evans off a single to left field with one out.
After the second out was recorded in the inning, Smith tripled to centerfield to score Hattan for what was a nine-run advantage.
Melson continued her work on the mound with two more strikeouts in the third, while the Lady Lions' offense added three more runs in the bottom of the inning with Larrick taking first base off a single, followed by Carson reaching first in a fielder's choice.
With one out on the scoreboard, Evans singled to left field to score Larrick, and put FHS ahead by 10 runs. From there, the Lady Lions added two more runs with Evans scoring off a passed ball and Sanderson batting in Carson off a base hit to right-centerfield.
Again, Melson retired the side with two more strikeouts, and her teammates added one more run with Reiber scoring on a passed ball. Reiber was the pinch runner for Smith, who singled to shallow centerfield.
Melson was completely on point Tuesday, striking out the first four batters she faced and six of the first nine. For the game, Melson allowed no runs on two hits and four walks. The ace of the lady Lions finished with 10 strikeouts.
Fairfield will now face Portsmouth Notre Dame on Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m. in Minford for the district championship. This season, FHS defeated the Lady Titans by an 8-6 score at VA Memorial Stadium.
Before they got on the bus Tuesday to play in the district finals this year, head coach Mark Dettwiller texted his players a picture of the scoreboard from that semifinal loss last season.
Maybe it was the final lesson needed for an already set motivation, but any way you look at it, the Lady Lions didn't have that same disappointment this season. In just five innings, the No. 1 seeded Fairfield squad shut out the No. 5 seeded Trimble Lady Tomcats by a 13-0 score in the Division IV SE District Semifinals at Minford High School.
Dettwiller spoke about that final photograph he texted to his players before the hour-plus bus ride and how the girls avenged what was a 4-3 loss in this round a season ago.
"I sent them a text right before we got on the bus," he said. "We took a picture of the scoreboard last year … we are still using that one."
Just how did the Lady Lions use that text or the experience from last season? How about to the tune of seven runs in the first inning, where they gained those runs on five hits and two walks.
Grace Larrick (3-for-3) began with a bunt single toward the third base side of the infield, followed by a single to left field by Shaylee Carson (2-for-4), which batted in Larrick from second base (she stole second) for the early one-run lead. Carson has hit safely for 28 consecutive games, dating back to last season.
Kaitlin Evans (2-for-3) followed with a base on balls, and Heather Sanderson (2-for-3) batted in Carson on a fielder's choice (but reached first base safely) for a 2-0 lead.
With two runners on the bases, Justice Hattan (2-for-3) continued her power surge from the previous tournament game last week with a three-run home run over the centerfield fence for a 5-0 Lady Lions advantage.
Having five runs on the scoreboard wasn't enough for the Lady Lions, as they continued to add to their lead in the first with Kourtnie Smith being hit by a pitch. Carli Reiber was the pinch runner for Smith, and she scored off a base hit to centerfield by Casey Carter. With Carly Arnold in as a runner for Carter, she eventually rounded the bases on a double by Carson, her second hit and second RBI of the inning.
For the game, FHS totaled 13 hits.
"The girls got off the bus ready to roll (Tuesday)," Dettwiller said. "They hit the ball very well. Our speedsters at the top of the lineup got on, and the middle and the bottom of the lineup did their job, batted them around and lit up the scoreboard.
"They did what they had to do. We don't focus on hitting home runs … we focus on hitting the ball hard, specifically hitting line drives. We tell the kids to think line drives, to hit line drives … to get in the box and take care of business.
"Justice is getting ahold of the ball right now, and it is traveling a long way."
Trimble threatened in the second inning with three runners on the bases with one out (they were retired in order in the first inning), but Melson did strike out the side for the second consecutive inning, keeping the Lady Tomcats scoreless.
[[In-content Ad]]
Fairfield responded in their half of the second with two more runs, with Evans reaching the bases off a passed ball on a strikeout, followed by Hattan batting in Evans off a single to left field with one out.
After the second out was recorded in the inning, Smith tripled to centerfield to score Hattan for what was a nine-run advantage.
Melson continued her work on the mound with two more strikeouts in the third, while the Lady Lions' offense added three more runs in the bottom of the inning with Larrick taking first base off a single, followed by Carson reaching first in a fielder's choice.
With one out on the scoreboard, Evans singled to left field to score Larrick, and put FHS ahead by 10 runs. From there, the Lady Lions added two more runs with Evans scoring off a passed ball and Sanderson batting in Carson off a base hit to right-centerfield.
Again, Melson retired the side with two more strikeouts, and her teammates added one more run with Reiber scoring on a passed ball. Reiber was the pinch runner for Smith, who singled to shallow centerfield.
Melson was completely on point Tuesday, striking out the first four batters she faced and six of the first nine. For the game, Melson allowed no runs on two hits and four walks. The ace of the lady Lions finished with 10 strikeouts.
Fairfield will now face Portsmouth Notre Dame on Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m. in Minford for the district championship. This season, FHS defeated the Lady Titans by an 8-6 score at VA Memorial Stadium.