Larrick throws no-hitter; Lady Lions dominate North Adams
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The Highland County Press-
LEESBURG — The hot start by the Fairfield Lady Lions was turned up to an even higher level Tuesday as junior pitcher Lauren Larrick pitched a no-hitter against the North Adams Lady Green Devils.
Not only did Larrick hold NA hitless on the day, but FHS continued to swing hot bats, collecting a season-high 19 hits, six for extra bases, en route to a 16-1 victory over NA at Fairfield High School, though FHS was the away team due to field conditions at North Adams.
Larrick was perfect on the mound through three innings, but two errors in the bottom of the fourth inning by the Lady Lions would lead to an unearned run by North Adams. Larrick bounced back in the bottom of the fifth to strike out the side, gaining her fifth win of the season in as many starts.
The junior not only allowed no hits, but walked none and struck out nine.
"Lauren was brilliant on the mound today for the Lady Lions, pitching her first no-hitter of the season," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "She struck out nine batters in the five-inning game.
"Also, the Lady Lions offense has been truly amazing in the cold weather."
As for the FHS offense, the Lady Lions tallied 19 hits in five innings, and eight different players had hits.
FHS (3-0, 5-0) continues to hit with power, collecting three doubles, two triples, and Jade Shelton hit a first-inning home run into the parking lot in centerfield, her first career home run.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions included Abby Thackston going 4-for-4, with a double, triple, four runs and one RBI.
Kortney Paris also went 4-for-4 with a triple, two runs and three RBIs.
Larrick helped her own cause with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, gaining two doubles, three runs and three RBIs.
The Lady Lions jumped out to an early lead, scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning.
Huff led off the game with an infield hit to the left side of the infield, stealing second base. Huff finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs.
Danielle Butler followed with a walk. Huff scored on a throwing error, and Butler scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Thackston singled to centerfield, and Whitney Hanenkrat, who went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, followed with another single, also to centerfield. Larrick doubled to the left-field fence, knocking in both runners.
Kortney Paris followed with a single to right-centerfield. Both Courtney Huff, running for Larrick, and Paris scored on throwing errors. Shelton completed the scoring with her first career home run.
"The home run was the fifth home run in five games for the Lady Lions," Purtell said. "We have noticed that there are not as many cars parked just beyond the outfield fence as there were earlier in the season."
The Lady Lions scored another run in the second inning on singles by Thackston and Paris.
FHS added three more runs in the top of the fourth on a double by Thackston, a single by Hanenkrat, a double by Larrick, and a single by Paris.
The Lady Lions completed the scoring in the top of the fifth inning with five runs. Heather Huff singled, Thackston tripled and Hanenkrat, Larrick, Paris, Smithson and Taylor Butler all singled.
FHS returns to Southern Hills League action on Friday as they travel to Ripley to take on the Lady Blue Jays. The Lady Lions will return home to host the Fairfield Lady Lions Invitational Tournament next Saturday, with participating schools East Clinton, McClain and Miami Trace.[[In-content Ad]]
Not only did Larrick hold NA hitless on the day, but FHS continued to swing hot bats, collecting a season-high 19 hits, six for extra bases, en route to a 16-1 victory over NA at Fairfield High School, though FHS was the away team due to field conditions at North Adams.
Larrick was perfect on the mound through three innings, but two errors in the bottom of the fourth inning by the Lady Lions would lead to an unearned run by North Adams. Larrick bounced back in the bottom of the fifth to strike out the side, gaining her fifth win of the season in as many starts.
The junior not only allowed no hits, but walked none and struck out nine.
"Lauren was brilliant on the mound today for the Lady Lions, pitching her first no-hitter of the season," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "She struck out nine batters in the five-inning game.
"Also, the Lady Lions offense has been truly amazing in the cold weather."
As for the FHS offense, the Lady Lions tallied 19 hits in five innings, and eight different players had hits.
FHS (3-0, 5-0) continues to hit with power, collecting three doubles, two triples, and Jade Shelton hit a first-inning home run into the parking lot in centerfield, her first career home run.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions included Abby Thackston going 4-for-4, with a double, triple, four runs and one RBI.
Kortney Paris also went 4-for-4 with a triple, two runs and three RBIs.
Larrick helped her own cause with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, gaining two doubles, three runs and three RBIs.
The Lady Lions jumped out to an early lead, scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning.
Huff led off the game with an infield hit to the left side of the infield, stealing second base. Huff finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs.
Danielle Butler followed with a walk. Huff scored on a throwing error, and Butler scored later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Thackston singled to centerfield, and Whitney Hanenkrat, who went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, followed with another single, also to centerfield. Larrick doubled to the left-field fence, knocking in both runners.
Kortney Paris followed with a single to right-centerfield. Both Courtney Huff, running for Larrick, and Paris scored on throwing errors. Shelton completed the scoring with her first career home run.
"The home run was the fifth home run in five games for the Lady Lions," Purtell said. "We have noticed that there are not as many cars parked just beyond the outfield fence as there were earlier in the season."
The Lady Lions scored another run in the second inning on singles by Thackston and Paris.
FHS added three more runs in the top of the fourth on a double by Thackston, a single by Hanenkrat, a double by Larrick, and a single by Paris.
The Lady Lions completed the scoring in the top of the fifth inning with five runs. Heather Huff singled, Thackston tripled and Hanenkrat, Larrick, Paris, Smithson and Taylor Butler all singled.
FHS returns to Southern Hills League action on Friday as they travel to Ripley to take on the Lady Blue Jays. The Lady Lions will return home to host the Fairfield Lady Lions Invitational Tournament next Saturday, with participating schools East Clinton, McClain and Miami Trace.[[In-content Ad]]