20-hit performance leads Lady Indians past rival McClain
Hillsboro's Kinsey Gilliland finished 4-for-4 against McClain on Monday at Alice Cassner Field in Hillsboro. (HCP Photo/Stephen Forsha)
Though the weather was a bit cold and a little windy, that didn’t damper Monday evening for the Hillsboro Lady Indians, as they collected 20 hits and 17 runs en route to their convincing win over Highland County counterpart and Frontier Athletic Conference rival, McClain by a 17-1 score.
HILLSBORO — Though the weather was a bit cold and a little windy, that didn’t dampen Monday evening for the Hillsboro Lady Indians, as they collected 20 hits and 17 runs en route to their convincing win over Highland County counterpart and Frontier Athletic Conference rival, McClain by a 17-1 score.
The five-inning run-rule game saw the Lady Indians hit the ball with force as Kinsey Gilliland finished 4-for-4 with four runs, a double and four RBI in the win. Gilliland, along with Halle Reveal, Isabelle Brunck and Camryn Spruell combined for 13 of Hillsboro’s 20 hits in the win.
Reveal finished 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a steal. Spruell was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and home run, with those numbers equaling three runs and five RBI. Brunck was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a steal.
“It is a rivalry game, it is McClain, the kids came out and they wanted to make a statement hitting the ball, and we hit the ball extremely well,” HHS head coach Gary Breeden said. “McClain’s pitchers were throwing well, but we hit, did what we needed to do, were aggressive early and stayed aggressive throughout the game.
“We talk about being aggressive when we swing. Good pitch selection when you swing, it is everything, you got to drive the ball through contact. We are starting to put everything together, trusting the process and seeing the results.”
The Lady Indians (4-0, 9-2) wasted no time in putting runs on the scoreboard at Alice Cassner Field, leading 3-0 after the first inning, then following a run scored by McClain, scored five runs in the bottom of the second for a 8-1 lead.
Six runs crossed the plate in the third for HHS, and in the fourth they scored three more runs for the 16-run win. In all for McClain (1-3 in FAC) they totaled two hits and committed to errors. Hillsboro finished with their aforementioned 20 hits and had no errors.
Three Hillsboro players totaled two hits each with Eowyn Brown going 2-for-3 with thee three runs, one RBI, a walk and a steal. Addie Huff was 2-for-4 with a run, two RBI and a steal, while teammate Chloe Roberts went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.
Hannah Burton finished the win 1-for-3 with a walk, and Chloe Page scored a run and forced a walk for HHS.
McClain saw Leah Lovett finish 1-for-2, and Jaden McCoy was also 1-for-2 with a triple and RBI. Brie Cummins scored a run for the Lady Tigers.
Spruell was the winning pitcher in the circle as the sophomore pitched five innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and no walks. She finished the game with 14 strikeouts, throwing a total of 72 pitches, 52 for strikes. Spruell faced 18 batters in the five-inning game.
“Every one of the kids did something well, whether it was offensively or defensively. It was a good team win, and the kids played with emotion,” Breeden said. “The kids in the dugout were on fire in the dugout with support, and that means a lot.”
Next for Hillsboro is a game with first place in the FAC on the line as they travel to face Jackson (also 4-0 in the FAC) on Wednesday, April 19 at 5 p.m.
“We will find out how prepared we are. The girls know what’s at stake, and the past couple years it has been Hillsboro-Jackson for the top of the league, and again, the girls know what is at stake,” Breeden said.
BOX SCORE
MHS 010 00x x — 1 2 2
HHS 356 3xx x — 17 20 0