Lady Lions go back to winning ways, topple Fayetteville
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The tone of the Southern Hills League matchup between the Fairfield Lady Lions and the Fayetteville Lady Rockets was set with the very first at-bat by the Lady Lions.
The first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning by lead-off hitter Courtney Huff went flying over the left field fence, and after Huff circled the bases, the Lady Lions scored 10 more times, getting back on the wining side of the scoreboard after three consecutive losses and defeating the Lady Rockets 11-4 Tuesday at Fairfield High School.
Fairfield not only gained an SHL win but broke the undefeated SHL mark of the Lady Rockets, putting them at 4-1 overall in the league. The win moves Fairfield to 6-5 overall and 5-0 in the SHL, as FHS totaled 13 hits on the day.
"After a three-game losing streak, we needed a win," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "We played well (Monday), so actually we started playing well then.
"The way we played Monday carried over to (Tuesday). The biggest difference was we came out strong, and we talked about that before the game."
The home run by Huff, her second home run in the past four games, was just the start of what turned into a four-run first inning compiled by Fairfield. Huff finished the day 2-for-3 with three runs, one RBI and one walk.
Following the round tripper, Shelby Smithson doubled, then moved to third base without a throw to the base. Smithson went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
The third batter of the inning, Whitney Hanenkrat singled, scoring Smithson. The senior finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
After Hanenkrat slid into second base, with one out, Sirenity Smith was safe at first on an infield throwing error, scoring Hanenkrat and allowing Smith to reach second base safely.
The final run of the first inning came with Cynnamon Sova-Davy taking first on an infield error, scoring Smith.
FHS wasn't done with their early-inning scoring, adding three runs in the bottom half of the second, as the three runs made it a 7-0 score.
"We suffered some injuries (Monday), so we had a couple players playing out of position. We were pleased with the infield play of Allen and Smith," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "The outfield play was good, and Fayetteville is a good hitting team."
The three-run, four-hit inning by the Lady Lions heated up on the cold and windy evening with one out on the scoreboard, as Huff got the inning started with a single. Huff ran the bases, eventually taking third base and scoring on a ground out by Smithson.
[[In-content Ad]]Hanenkrat followed by taking first after being hit by a pitch, and Lauren Larrick followed by a single. Hanenkrat scored on a base hit by Smith, and Larrick scored the third run of the inning on a single by Halie Chain. Chain finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
The Lady Lions took a nine-run lead in the bottom of the third as Huff and Smithson scored runs. Huff kept the inning alive with a two-out walk and scored on a double hit by Smithson. Smithson scored on a single by Hanenkrat.
FHS scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth with Chain and Sova-Davy rounding the bases. Chain scored on a triple by Sova-Davy, and Cheyenne Allen batted in Sova-Davy with a ground out to second base.
"Getting those last two runs was big for us," Purtell said. "Going into the final inning with a seven-run lead instead of five makes a difference."
Fayetteville put two runs on the scoreboard in the top half of the sixth on a two-run home run by Hammons with one out. Their final two runs came in the seventh inning.
The pitching win went to Larrick (6-4) as she pitched seven innings for the complete-inning win. Larrick allowed four runs (four earned) on 11 hits and two walks. She finished with four strikeouts.
"Lauren was a bulldog out there (Tuesday)," Purtell said. "She's pitched 17 innings in 24 hours. She battled in the final two innings, but that's what good pitchers do."
The loss was charged to Whitney Boothy.
FHS will play again on Thursday as they will host North Adams at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FAHS 000 002 2 — 4 11 2
FHS 432 002 x — 11 13 3
The first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning by lead-off hitter Courtney Huff went flying over the left field fence, and after Huff circled the bases, the Lady Lions scored 10 more times, getting back on the wining side of the scoreboard after three consecutive losses and defeating the Lady Rockets 11-4 Tuesday at Fairfield High School.
Fairfield not only gained an SHL win but broke the undefeated SHL mark of the Lady Rockets, putting them at 4-1 overall in the league. The win moves Fairfield to 6-5 overall and 5-0 in the SHL, as FHS totaled 13 hits on the day.
"After a three-game losing streak, we needed a win," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "We played well (Monday), so actually we started playing well then.
"The way we played Monday carried over to (Tuesday). The biggest difference was we came out strong, and we talked about that before the game."
The home run by Huff, her second home run in the past four games, was just the start of what turned into a four-run first inning compiled by Fairfield. Huff finished the day 2-for-3 with three runs, one RBI and one walk.
Following the round tripper, Shelby Smithson doubled, then moved to third base without a throw to the base. Smithson went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
The third batter of the inning, Whitney Hanenkrat singled, scoring Smithson. The senior finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
After Hanenkrat slid into second base, with one out, Sirenity Smith was safe at first on an infield throwing error, scoring Hanenkrat and allowing Smith to reach second base safely.
The final run of the first inning came with Cynnamon Sova-Davy taking first on an infield error, scoring Smith.
FHS wasn't done with their early-inning scoring, adding three runs in the bottom half of the second, as the three runs made it a 7-0 score.
"We suffered some injuries (Monday), so we had a couple players playing out of position. We were pleased with the infield play of Allen and Smith," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "The outfield play was good, and Fayetteville is a good hitting team."
The three-run, four-hit inning by the Lady Lions heated up on the cold and windy evening with one out on the scoreboard, as Huff got the inning started with a single. Huff ran the bases, eventually taking third base and scoring on a ground out by Smithson.
[[In-content Ad]]Hanenkrat followed by taking first after being hit by a pitch, and Lauren Larrick followed by a single. Hanenkrat scored on a base hit by Smith, and Larrick scored the third run of the inning on a single by Halie Chain. Chain finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
The Lady Lions took a nine-run lead in the bottom of the third as Huff and Smithson scored runs. Huff kept the inning alive with a two-out walk and scored on a double hit by Smithson. Smithson scored on a single by Hanenkrat.
FHS scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth with Chain and Sova-Davy rounding the bases. Chain scored on a triple by Sova-Davy, and Cheyenne Allen batted in Sova-Davy with a ground out to second base.
"Getting those last two runs was big for us," Purtell said. "Going into the final inning with a seven-run lead instead of five makes a difference."
Fayetteville put two runs on the scoreboard in the top half of the sixth on a two-run home run by Hammons with one out. Their final two runs came in the seventh inning.
The pitching win went to Larrick (6-4) as she pitched seven innings for the complete-inning win. Larrick allowed four runs (four earned) on 11 hits and two walks. She finished with four strikeouts.
"Lauren was a bulldog out there (Tuesday)," Purtell said. "She's pitched 17 innings in 24 hours. She battled in the final two innings, but that's what good pitchers do."
The loss was charged to Whitney Boothy.
FHS will play again on Thursday as they will host North Adams at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FAHS 000 002 2 — 4 11 2
FHS 432 002 x — 11 13 3