Lady Lions held to one hit in first loss of the season
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
CHILLICOTHE — At VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, the top two teams in the Southern Hills League met in a non-conference battle. This meeting, it was the Eastern Brown Lady Warriors handing the Fairfield Lady Lions their first loss of the season, 1-0, Monday night.
The Lady Lions (6-0, 9-1) and the Lady Warriors entered the game in first place in small school and big school divisions, respectively.
It was what FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell described as a "classic softball game," which featured two of the top pitchers in the Southeast District, Lauren Larrick of Fairfield and Maria Johnson of Eastern.
Larrick held Eastern hitters to two hits, and Johnson held the high-powered Lady Lion offense to but a single hit.
The win improves EB to 7-2 overall, 5-1 in the SHL.
Kaylee Purdy of Eastern reached base on an error to lead off the game.
But Larrick and the Lady Lion defense retired the next three batters to end the threat.
In the top of the second inning, Ratliff reached base on an infield error, but again, Larrick retired the next Lady Warrior to end the inning.
The Lady Lions put their only runner of the game in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Kortney Paris doubled to centerfield for the Lady Lions' only hit of the game. Johnson ended the threat by retiring the next batter.
The lone run of the game crossed the plate in the top of the fourth inning.
Johnson bounced a double over the fence in left centerfield. Mullins laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Johnson to third base. Emily Tatman followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Johnson.
The Lady Lion defense came up with a big play in the top of the sixth inning.
With two outs and no one on base, Mullins drew a base on balls. Tatman then hit a sinking line drive to short centerfield, but Danielle Butler raced in and attempted a diving catch, but the ball bounced away. Right fielder Kylie Bates, backing up the play, hit relay player Shelby Smithson, who in turn threw a strike to catcher Whitney Hanenkrat, who applied the tag to Mullins to end the inning and keep the score 1-0.
Larrick (9-1) suffered the loss. Larrick pitched seven innings, allowing two hits, one run, one earned run and no walks. Larrick had five strikeouts.
Johnson picked up the win (5-2) for Eastern. Johnson pitched seven innings, allowing one hit and no runs. She allowed no walks and finished with 11 strikeouts.
FHS resumes Southern Hills League play Tuesday as they host the Manchester Lady Greyhounds, in a game slated to start at 5 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The Lady Lions (6-0, 9-1) and the Lady Warriors entered the game in first place in small school and big school divisions, respectively.
It was what FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell described as a "classic softball game," which featured two of the top pitchers in the Southeast District, Lauren Larrick of Fairfield and Maria Johnson of Eastern.
Larrick held Eastern hitters to two hits, and Johnson held the high-powered Lady Lion offense to but a single hit.
The win improves EB to 7-2 overall, 5-1 in the SHL.
Kaylee Purdy of Eastern reached base on an error to lead off the game.
But Larrick and the Lady Lion defense retired the next three batters to end the threat.
In the top of the second inning, Ratliff reached base on an infield error, but again, Larrick retired the next Lady Warrior to end the inning.
The Lady Lions put their only runner of the game in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Kortney Paris doubled to centerfield for the Lady Lions' only hit of the game. Johnson ended the threat by retiring the next batter.
The lone run of the game crossed the plate in the top of the fourth inning.
Johnson bounced a double over the fence in left centerfield. Mullins laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Johnson to third base. Emily Tatman followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Johnson.
The Lady Lion defense came up with a big play in the top of the sixth inning.
With two outs and no one on base, Mullins drew a base on balls. Tatman then hit a sinking line drive to short centerfield, but Danielle Butler raced in and attempted a diving catch, but the ball bounced away. Right fielder Kylie Bates, backing up the play, hit relay player Shelby Smithson, who in turn threw a strike to catcher Whitney Hanenkrat, who applied the tag to Mullins to end the inning and keep the score 1-0.
Larrick (9-1) suffered the loss. Larrick pitched seven innings, allowing two hits, one run, one earned run and no walks. Larrick had five strikeouts.
Johnson picked up the win (5-2) for Eastern. Johnson pitched seven innings, allowing one hit and no runs. She allowed no walks and finished with 11 strikeouts.
FHS resumes Southern Hills League play Tuesday as they host the Manchester Lady Greyhounds, in a game slated to start at 5 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]