Lady Lions win on Senior Night
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
After a rainy week, the Fairfield Lady Lions finally returned to Southern Hills Athletic Conference play, hosting the Ripley Lady Blue Jays on Senior Day with an 11-1 victory Thursday at FHS.
FHS honored seniors from both Ripley and Fairfield in a pre-game ceremony, as FHS had all three Fairfield seniors, Courtney Huff, Sirenity Smith and Amanda Sanderson, in the starting lineup this afternoon. The three seniors led the Lady Lion offense this afternoon, as they combined for five hits in a 17-hit attack.
Arica Melson won on the mound, limiting the Lady Blue Jays to just two hits en route to her 11th win of the season. Junior catcher Halie Chain threw out two more runners attempting to steal this afternoon, running her season total to 19 runners caught stealing.
Melson retired the Lady Blue Jays (5-15, 4-7 SHAC) in order in the top of the first inning, striking out the first two batters and enticing the third batter to ground back to the circle. The Lady Lions offense wasted no time denting the scoreboard, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The scoring began with Grace Larrick being called safe on an infield single with one out, and stole second base. Shelby Smithson followed with a home run, her fifth of the season, just to the right of the scoreboard in left-centerfield to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead.
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Halie Chain singled, and Shaylee Carson came off the bench as a courtesy runner for Chain and stole second base. Heather Sanderson singled to right-centerfield with two outs to drive in Carson. Smith (3-for-3, double, one RBI) doubled down the left field line to drive in Sanderson and give the Lady Lions an early 4-0 lead.
The Lady Lions (11-9, 8-4 SHAC) added to their lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning as Smith again singled to score Heather Sanderson.
FHS erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 10-1.
Huff laid down a bunt single and promptly stole second to begin the fifth. Larrick (3-for-3, two runs, one RBI) singled to the left side of the infield to drive in Huff. FHS scored four more runs with two outs.
Chain (3-for-4, two RBIs) singled to drive in Larrick. Cynnamon Sova-Davy singled, and Heather Sanderson (2-for-3, three runs, three RBIs) followed with a single to centerfield to drive in Carson (running for Chain) and Sova-Davy. Smith followed with a single to advance Heather Sanderson to third base. Amanda Sanderson singled to score her sister, Heather, collecting her first hit and RBI of the season.
Meanwhile, Melson and the Lady Lions continued to shutout the Lady Blue Jays the rest of the way not allowing a hit while striking out seven batters over the final three innings.
The Lady Lions offense finished the game with a game ending run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carson led off the inning with a bunt single and stole second base. Larrick drew a walk and Smithson followed with an infield single to load the bases. Chain ended the game with a single down the left field line to score Carson.
Melson (11-6) picked up the win for the Lady Lions. Melson pitched five innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks. She finished with nine strikeouts.
The Lady Lions are off on Friday and will host a tri-match on Saturday with Unioto and Portsmouth-Clay, starting at 11 a.m.
FHS honored seniors from both Ripley and Fairfield in a pre-game ceremony, as FHS had all three Fairfield seniors, Courtney Huff, Sirenity Smith and Amanda Sanderson, in the starting lineup this afternoon. The three seniors led the Lady Lion offense this afternoon, as they combined for five hits in a 17-hit attack.
Arica Melson won on the mound, limiting the Lady Blue Jays to just two hits en route to her 11th win of the season. Junior catcher Halie Chain threw out two more runners attempting to steal this afternoon, running her season total to 19 runners caught stealing.
Melson retired the Lady Blue Jays (5-15, 4-7 SHAC) in order in the top of the first inning, striking out the first two batters and enticing the third batter to ground back to the circle. The Lady Lions offense wasted no time denting the scoreboard, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The scoring began with Grace Larrick being called safe on an infield single with one out, and stole second base. Shelby Smithson followed with a home run, her fifth of the season, just to the right of the scoreboard in left-centerfield to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead.
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Halie Chain singled, and Shaylee Carson came off the bench as a courtesy runner for Chain and stole second base. Heather Sanderson singled to right-centerfield with two outs to drive in Carson. Smith (3-for-3, double, one RBI) doubled down the left field line to drive in Sanderson and give the Lady Lions an early 4-0 lead.
The Lady Lions (11-9, 8-4 SHAC) added to their lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning as Smith again singled to score Heather Sanderson.
FHS erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 10-1.
Huff laid down a bunt single and promptly stole second to begin the fifth. Larrick (3-for-3, two runs, one RBI) singled to the left side of the infield to drive in Huff. FHS scored four more runs with two outs.
Chain (3-for-4, two RBIs) singled to drive in Larrick. Cynnamon Sova-Davy singled, and Heather Sanderson (2-for-3, three runs, three RBIs) followed with a single to centerfield to drive in Carson (running for Chain) and Sova-Davy. Smith followed with a single to advance Heather Sanderson to third base. Amanda Sanderson singled to score her sister, Heather, collecting her first hit and RBI of the season.
Meanwhile, Melson and the Lady Lions continued to shutout the Lady Blue Jays the rest of the way not allowing a hit while striking out seven batters over the final three innings.
The Lady Lions offense finished the game with a game ending run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carson led off the inning with a bunt single and stole second base. Larrick drew a walk and Smithson followed with an infield single to load the bases. Chain ended the game with a single down the left field line to score Carson.
Melson (11-6) picked up the win for the Lady Lions. Melson pitched five innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks. She finished with nine strikeouts.
The Lady Lions are off on Friday and will host a tri-match on Saturday with Unioto and Portsmouth-Clay, starting at 11 a.m.