Lady Lions lose 3rd straight; fall to Eastern Brown
Lead Summary

By
The Highland County Press-
SARDINIA — For the third time in three games, the Fairfield Lady Lions were unable to gain a victory. This time, the Lady Lions were unable to score a run against Southern Hills League counterpart Eastern Brown, falling to the Lady Warriors, 1-0 in extra innings Monday at EBHS.
The game, this time a non-league game, featured two All-SHL and ALL-SE District pitchers in Maria Johnson (EB) and Lauren Larrick. The two teams battled in a scoreless softball game through eight innings, but finally with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, two Lady Lion miscues led to the only run of the game and an EB win.
"The girls truly showed their character and heart Monday afternoon. After a grueling and disappointing road trip on Saturday at Rubyville, the girls rebounded to play like champions this afternoon," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "They played with heart, and they played with confidence. Eastern is an outstanding team, and their 7-1 reflects it.
"Playing in a game like (Monday) will only make the young Lady Lions better come the end of the season."
FHS (5-5, 4-0 SHL) threatened to score in the very first inning, as Shelby Smithson doubled down the left field line but was left stranded. The Lady Warriors also advanced a runner to third base in the bottom of the first inning but was left on base as the inning came to an end.
Again, the Lady Lions advanced a runner to third base in the top of the second inning. Sirenity Smith singled, stole second base and moved to third on a ground out. But again, the Lady Lions failed to get the timely hit they needed .
The Lady Warriors put a runner in scoring position on a single and a stolen base, but Larrick struck out the next batter to end the inning.
FHS had their best opportunity in the top of the third inning.
With one out, Courtney Huff drew a base on balls, and Kortney Paris followed with an infield single. Smithson hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Huff at third base. Whitney Hanenkrat stepped to the plate and blasted a towering fly ball to deep centerfield, but the fly ball was contained inside the fence, and the EB centerfielder tracked it down to end the inning.
EB (7-1, 4-0 SHL) saw their best scoring opportunity in regulation play in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johnson led off the inning with a double to the gap in left centerfield.
[[In-content Ad]]Shelby Mullins laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Johnson to third base, but Larrick struck out the next Warrior batter. Larrick ended the inning on a ground ball to Smithson at first base.
The game continued back-and-forth with each team putting runners on base and Larrick and Johnson retiring opposing batters to strand runners on base.
The Lady Warriors' Seigla would reach first base on a ground ball error with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Seigla stole second base. Larrick got the ground ball she was looking for to end the inning, but the ball would find its way into the outfield on an error, giving EB the 1-0 victory.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions were: Huff (2-for-3), Paris (1-for-4), Smithson (1-for-4, double) and Smith (1-for-3).
Larrick (5-4) pitched 8 2-3 innings, allowing one run (none earned) on three hits and two walks. She finished with eight strikeouts.
Johnson (7-1) picked up the win for EB. Johnson pitched nine innings, allowing no runs on five hits, no runs and one walk. Johnson totaled eight strikeouts.
FHS will host Fayetteville on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 000 0 — 0 5 3
EB 000 000 1 — 1 3 0
The game, this time a non-league game, featured two All-SHL and ALL-SE District pitchers in Maria Johnson (EB) and Lauren Larrick. The two teams battled in a scoreless softball game through eight innings, but finally with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, two Lady Lion miscues led to the only run of the game and an EB win.
"The girls truly showed their character and heart Monday afternoon. After a grueling and disappointing road trip on Saturday at Rubyville, the girls rebounded to play like champions this afternoon," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "They played with heart, and they played with confidence. Eastern is an outstanding team, and their 7-1 reflects it.
"Playing in a game like (Monday) will only make the young Lady Lions better come the end of the season."
FHS (5-5, 4-0 SHL) threatened to score in the very first inning, as Shelby Smithson doubled down the left field line but was left stranded. The Lady Warriors also advanced a runner to third base in the bottom of the first inning but was left on base as the inning came to an end.
Again, the Lady Lions advanced a runner to third base in the top of the second inning. Sirenity Smith singled, stole second base and moved to third on a ground out. But again, the Lady Lions failed to get the timely hit they needed .
The Lady Warriors put a runner in scoring position on a single and a stolen base, but Larrick struck out the next batter to end the inning.
FHS had their best opportunity in the top of the third inning.
With one out, Courtney Huff drew a base on balls, and Kortney Paris followed with an infield single. Smithson hit into a fielder’s choice, forcing Huff at third base. Whitney Hanenkrat stepped to the plate and blasted a towering fly ball to deep centerfield, but the fly ball was contained inside the fence, and the EB centerfielder tracked it down to end the inning.
EB (7-1, 4-0 SHL) saw their best scoring opportunity in regulation play in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johnson led off the inning with a double to the gap in left centerfield.
[[In-content Ad]]Shelby Mullins laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Johnson to third base, but Larrick struck out the next Warrior batter. Larrick ended the inning on a ground ball to Smithson at first base.
The game continued back-and-forth with each team putting runners on base and Larrick and Johnson retiring opposing batters to strand runners on base.
The Lady Warriors' Seigla would reach first base on a ground ball error with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Seigla stole second base. Larrick got the ground ball she was looking for to end the inning, but the ball would find its way into the outfield on an error, giving EB the 1-0 victory.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions were: Huff (2-for-3), Paris (1-for-4), Smithson (1-for-4, double) and Smith (1-for-3).
Larrick (5-4) pitched 8 2-3 innings, allowing one run (none earned) on three hits and two walks. She finished with eight strikeouts.
Johnson (7-1) picked up the win for EB. Johnson pitched nine innings, allowing no runs on five hits, no runs and one walk. Johnson totaled eight strikeouts.
FHS will host Fayetteville on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 000 0 — 0 5 3
EB 000 000 1 — 1 3 0