Lady Lions win sectional title; blank Manchester
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
After two consecutive days of rain that postponed their Division IV SE District Sectional championship game, the Fairfield Lady Lions defeated the Manchester Lady Greyhounds, 10-0 to win their 28th sectional tournament championship and their 13th consecutive sectional title.
The Lady Lions hit with power, ran the bases aggressively, received solid pitching from Arica Melson and played errorless defense to move to 17-4 overall on the season.
Melson pitched her fifth shutout of the year, a three-hitter, recording her 14th win of the season.
Shelby Smithson blasted a fifth-inning solo home run to ignite the Lady Lion offense en route to the victory. Cynnamon Sova-Davy (2-for-4) had three RBIs.
[[In-content Ad]]The Lady Lions took an early one-run lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Grace Larrick led off the inning with a bunt base hit. Kaitlin Evans laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Larrick to second base. Smithson singled to centerfield to drive Larrick home.
FHS added to their lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
With one out, Larrick (2-for-2) and Evans drew consecutive walks. Smithson (2-for-4) was safe on an error to load the bases. Sova-Davy scored runners, hitting a single to centerfield to drive in Larrick and Evans for a 3-0 lead.
The bottom of the fourth inning was also a scoring inning for the Lady Lions as Shaylee Carson (2-for-3) singled and Kourtnie Smith tripled to the fence in right-centerfield, scoring Carson. Smith scored on a throw to first base after a dropped third strike.
Smithson led off the bottom of the fifth inning with her third home run of the season. This one was a solo blast into the parking lot in right-centerfield.
The Lady Lions ended the game early with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Smith reached first base on an error to lead off the inning. Justice Hattan followed with a single to left field. Larrick had an infield single to load the bases. Evans grounded to the second baseman, but the throw to the plate was late as Smith scored.
Smithson grounded to the shortstop, and again, the throw to the plate was late as Hattan scored. Sova-Davy singled to centerfield as Larrick and Evans scored to end the game.
Melson (14-2) picked up the win for Fairfield. She pitched six innings, allowing three hits with no runs and five walks. She finished with six strikeouts.
FHS advances to the district semifinals at Minford High School and will play the Waterford Lady Wildcats (11-10, 7-7 TVC). The game is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. Waterford defeated Trimble on Saturday, 12-2.
The Lady Lions have one Southern Hills Athletic Conference game remaining at Ripley, Monday at 5 p.m.
The Lady Lions hit with power, ran the bases aggressively, received solid pitching from Arica Melson and played errorless defense to move to 17-4 overall on the season.
Melson pitched her fifth shutout of the year, a three-hitter, recording her 14th win of the season.
Shelby Smithson blasted a fifth-inning solo home run to ignite the Lady Lion offense en route to the victory. Cynnamon Sova-Davy (2-for-4) had three RBIs.
[[In-content Ad]]The Lady Lions took an early one-run lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Grace Larrick led off the inning with a bunt base hit. Kaitlin Evans laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Larrick to second base. Smithson singled to centerfield to drive Larrick home.
FHS added to their lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
With one out, Larrick (2-for-2) and Evans drew consecutive walks. Smithson (2-for-4) was safe on an error to load the bases. Sova-Davy scored runners, hitting a single to centerfield to drive in Larrick and Evans for a 3-0 lead.
The bottom of the fourth inning was also a scoring inning for the Lady Lions as Shaylee Carson (2-for-3) singled and Kourtnie Smith tripled to the fence in right-centerfield, scoring Carson. Smith scored on a throw to first base after a dropped third strike.
Smithson led off the bottom of the fifth inning with her third home run of the season. This one was a solo blast into the parking lot in right-centerfield.
The Lady Lions ended the game early with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Smith reached first base on an error to lead off the inning. Justice Hattan followed with a single to left field. Larrick had an infield single to load the bases. Evans grounded to the second baseman, but the throw to the plate was late as Smith scored.
Smithson grounded to the shortstop, and again, the throw to the plate was late as Hattan scored. Sova-Davy singled to centerfield as Larrick and Evans scored to end the game.
Melson (14-2) picked up the win for Fairfield. She pitched six innings, allowing three hits with no runs and five walks. She finished with six strikeouts.
FHS advances to the district semifinals at Minford High School and will play the Waterford Lady Wildcats (11-10, 7-7 TVC). The game is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 at 4:30 p.m. Waterford defeated Trimble on Saturday, 12-2.
The Lady Lions have one Southern Hills Athletic Conference game remaining at Ripley, Monday at 5 p.m.