Moon shots lead Lady Tigers by Rockets

    GREENFIELD - The ball was flying out of the ballpark as the McClain Lady Tigers played home run derby Friday afternoon at their home ballpark. With home runs by Kate Hammond and Alex Taylor, the Lady Tigers sent the ball into orbit, defeating the Fayetteville Rockets 15-2 in five innings.

    "We got our bats working," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "It was nice to get all the kids in and get them some work in. The girls built their confidence up."

    Hammond's homer was launched in the first inning, bringing home Taylor, who took the bases with a two-RBI fielder's choice. Taylor scored Cortney Hyer and Landrum, who each forced walks. The two-run shot off the bat of Hammond made the score 4-0. 

    "Getting Kate in the lineup tonight was a big difference for us," Haines said.

    Megan Dettwiller followed with a double, and three straight walks were drawn by Kate Crabtree, Alyssa Bean and Hyer. Landrum brought home the sixth run with a single. Dettwiller, Crabtree and Bean all scored in the inning after reaching the bases with walks.    

    The second inning had even more scored runs by the Lady Tigers with the score exploding to 14-0.

    Taylor was the first base runner for MHS in the second with a single. Morgan Dettwiller followed with a base knock and Hammond gained two more RBIs by scoring both base runners with a hard-hit double.

    Megan Dettwiller scored RBI-singled in Hammond. Crabtree came to the plate and smacked a base hit. Bean added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to ring home Megan Dettwiller.

    Then came the second moon shot by the Lady Tigers off the bat of Taylor. Taylor's homer was one of three-run variety. Before she hit the home run, Hyer doubled and Landrum took first with a single. The three RBI home runs from Taylor gave MHS a 14-run lead. Taylor totaled five RBIs, while Hammond finished with four. Also gaining RBIs for MHS were: Hyer (2) and Landrum, Megan Dettwiller, Bean and Lawwell, all with one each.

    Crabtree scored in the third with an RBI double from Sasha Lawwell. Crabtree took first with a walk.

    At the plate, the Lady Tigers totaled 15 hits. Also gaining hits in the game were Jenna Perie and Frankie Wise.

    The win was credited to Megan Dettwiller. She finished with five strikeouts while allowing one hit and one walk.

    Ashley Green struck out four in relief. She allowed two hits and one walk.

    "Megan and Ashley both got in some work," Haines said. "They also pitched well and got their confidence up."

    The win improves MHS to 1-1 overall.

BOX SCORE

SCORE BY INNINGS

FHS - 000 02x x - 2

MHS - 681 0xx x - 15