Fairfield splits with Paint Valley; earn win over state-ranked Williamsburg

The Fairfield Lady Lions traveled to Paint Valley High School on Saturday (April 19) to play the Paint Valley Lady Bearcats in a non-conference doubleheader, as the Lady Lions split the twin bill with Paint Valley

In Game 1, Fairfield had 15 hits including home runs by Rilee Quickle and Jobey Hattan to score nine runs, but the Lady Lion defense had an uncharacteristic eight errors to allow Paint Valley a 10-9 walk off win in the bottom of the seventh inning on a bases loaded wild pitch.

Paint Valley took an 8-4 lead after four innings, but as they have done so many times the Lady Lions rallied with one run in the top of the fifth inning, and four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 9-8 lead.  

In the top of the fifth inning with one out, Quickle singled to left field and advanced to second base on a ground out. 

Hattan then hit a home run over the right-centerfield fence. Carly Sanders kept the inning alive with a single deep in the hole at shortstop. Next, Kelsie Crowder and Alyssa Bales followed with consecutive doubles to give Fairfield the lead.

Paint Valley scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score. Fairfield was retired in order in the top of the seventh inning. Paint Valley then loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning and win the game on a wild pitch.

Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Quickle (3-for-5, double, home run, three runs, one RBI), Maynard (2-for-3, one run, one RBI), Hattan (2-for-4, double, home run, two runs, three RBI), Sanders (2-for-4, two runs), Crowder (2-for-4, double, one run, one RBI), Bales (2-for-4, double, two RBI), Smith (1-for-4) and Whitlee Morrow (1-for-3).                

Maynard suffered the loss in relief of Quickle for Fairfield. In three innings, she allowed two hits, four runs, two earned runs, four  walks and three strikeouts.  

Fairfield took out their frustrations from Game 1 in Game 2 as they erupted for 13 hits to score 22 runs, including eight runs in the first inning, en route to a 22-4 victory over the Lady Bearcats.  

Quickle was outstanding in the circle, pitching a no-hitter through the first three innings while striking out six. Quickle gave up an earned run on one hit in the fourth inning to pick up here 10th victory of the season. Maynard would enter the game to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning.

Fairfield scored runs in every inning, scoring eight runs in the first inning, two runs in the top of the second inning, four runs each in the third, fourth and fifth innings.  

Paint Valley completed the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.  

Fairfield first baseman Ava White and left fielder Kaitlyn Eidenier had career days at the plate. White was 1-for-3 with a SAC fly, a run scored, and four RBI. Eidenier was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBI.

Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Quickle (one RBI), Maynard (3- for-3, double, four runs, one RBI), Hattan (3-for-4, SAC fly, three runs, four RBI), Sanders (2-for-4, double, four runs, two RBI), Crowder (2-for-4, three runs, two RBI), Bales (1 for 2 double, two RBI), Avery Morrow (one run), White (1-for-3, SAC fly, one run, four RBI), Eidenier (1-for-2, one run, two RBI), Daphne Butts (1-for-3) and Jorja May (one run).                 

Quickle was the winning pitcher for Fairfield, pitching four innings, with one hit, one run, one earned run, no walks and seven strikeouts.  

Maynard pitched one inning, allowing three hits, three runs, three earned runs, three walks and one strikeout. 

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It was another beautiful day for softball Monday afternoon (April 21) as the Fairfield Lady Lions, the state-ranked No. 9 in Division VI hosted the undefeated Williamsburg Lady Wildcats and state ranked No. 7 in Division V.  

The game featured the top team in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference and the top team in the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference, and the Lady Lions played their best game of the season by shutting out the Williamsburg Lady Wildcats by a score of 10-0 in six innings.

Rilee Quickle, again, was brilliant in the circle scattering six hits and stranding six Lady Wildcats on base as the Fairfield defense played errorless softball and made outstanding plays in the field. Quickle struck out six batters on the afternoon.

The Lady Lions finished with 12 hits on the afternoon scoring 10 runs. 

Fairfield scored runs in every inning, while Quickle and Kelsie Crowder each had three hits as Ally Maynard and Jobey Hattan both had two hits apiece.

The Lady Lions started the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

With one out, Maynard was hit by a pitch and stole second base.  Hattan singled to centerfield to score Maynard. Hattan then stole second base and Carly Sanders doubled down the left field line to score Hattan.

The Lady Lions added a run in the bottom of the second inning.  With two outs and no one on base, Quickle doubled to the fence in left-centerfield and scored on a base hit by Hattan.

Fairfield added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning.  Sanders drew a walk to lead off the inning and stole second base.  Crowder then singled advancing Sanders to third base. Crowder then stole second base.  

Two outs later, Avery Morrow doubled to the fence in right-centerfield to score both Sanders and Crowder and gave the Lady Lions a 5-0 lead.

Fairfield scored single runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and fifth inning on base hits by Quickle and Crowder.

The Lady Lions completed the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Quickle singled, Maynard singled, Hattan singled and Sanders was safe on an infield error to end the game early 10-0.

Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Quickle (3-for-4, double, three runs), Maynard (2-for-3, HBP, two runs, two RBI), Hattan (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI), Sanders (1-for-2, double, one run, one RBI), Crowder (3-for-3, two runs, one RBI), Smith (two RBI) and Avery Morrow (1-for-3, double, two RBI).                 

Quickle (11-1) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield going six innings, allowing six hits, no runs, no earned runs, one walk and six strikeouts.